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With week four of the 2021 Chinese Super League season over for the Suzhou-base Group B, here is the round-up of all fixtures from the week.
Hebei 1-1 Shanghai Shenhua
The opening match for Group B ended in dramatic fashion as Shanghai Shenhua secured a point after looking all-but-certain to suffer their first loss of the season.
Hebei opened the scoring after just five minutes, after Hu Rentian’s close-range effort was deflected off a Shenhua defender and flew firmly into the net.
Shenhua controlled the majority of the match from then on, with an astonishing 22 shots, seven on target, while retaining 62% of possession. The blue half of Shanghai looked certain to lose the match, despite their valiant efforts, with Hebei holding onto their lead deep into the five minutes of stoppage time.
That was not the case, however, as Adrian Mierzejewski scored a sensational free kick from the edge of the box in the 99th minute of play, seeing strong protests from the Hebei players. The goal stood and the result sees Shenhua and Hebei keep pace with each other in the standings.
Wuhan 0-2 Beijing Guoan
Fresh off of their first victory of the season against Dalian Professional, Beijing Guoan secured another three points as they looked to climb their way back to the top of the standings with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wuhan.
The Imperial Guards got the scoring underway in the fifth minute of the match. Zhang Yuning was tripped in the penalty area, awarded Beijing a spot kick, which Cedric Bakambu coolly slotted home to give Slaven Bilić’s side the early lead.
Beijing would not give up this lead and Bakambu added a second goal just one minute after half time with a well place shot from the edge of the box beating Dong Hengyi low. Beijing held on and secured another three points, putting them just two points back of the three teams at the top of the standings.
Dalian Professional 1-0 Tianjin Jinmen Tiger
In the battle of the Group B bottom dwellers, Dalian Professional showed just enough to secure their first points of the 2021 season, seeing them climb above both Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Wuhan after sitting bottom of the group.
It took 80 minutes for Dalian to finally break down the resolute Tianjin defence, having had an earlier goal ruled out after the ball went out of play before a cross was sent into the box.
Marcus Danielson smashed home a close-range effort after a corner saw the ball headed down in front of him, leaving Teng Shangkun with no chance of stopping his powerful shot.
The result sends the much maligned Tianjin side to the bottom of the Group B standings, with just one point earned so far this season.
Shanghai Port 0-0 Changchun Yatai
0-0 draws and Changchun Yatai are becoming fast friends, with this the third consecutive the team has experienced so far in 2021.
Chen Yang’s side could have scored a number of times in this match, seeing a Jores Okore deflection hit the crossbar and shots from both Erik Lima and Serginho saved well by Yan Junling from close range.
Shanghai Port, who retain top spot in Group B while sitting level on points with Beijing Guoan and Hebei, grew into the game and began to take charge as the second half progressed, but neither side could find a way to break the deadlock.
This sees both teams maintain their unbeaten runs to start the season, but big questions will need to be asked of Chen Yang’s side, who have not scored (albeit not conceding either) since the opening day of the season.
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