Shanghai Shenhua finally secured a long-awaited home victory; is there still a chance for the title?

Special Contributor / Gan Hui After almost two months of poor form, Shenhua finally celebrated a commanding 6-1 victory over Meizhou Hakka at home on the night of the 26th, which is their biggest win this season.

Shenhua’s previous home win was back in late July during the 18th round, a tight 3-2 victory against Henan. The past two months have undoubtedly been the toughest period since Slutsky took charge. Over seven league matches, Shenhua’s record was 1 win, 4 draws, and 2 losses, failing to show the level expected of a title contender. The team slipped from leading the table by 6 points to trailing by 3, losing their advantage in the title race. Particularly in the last three rounds, Shenhua conceded goals in the dying moments, which hurt both their results and morale significantly.

In this round against Meizhou Hakka, Shenhua avoided repeating the mistakes made in matches against Shenzhen NewPengcheng and Wuhan Three Towns, ultimately winning 6-1. The six goals were scored by five players: Asue, Wu Xi, Liu Chengyu, Yang Zexiang, and Yang Haoyu, with Wu Xi netting twice.

After the match, Slutsky summarized, “In the first half, the opponent used a three-center-back and five-defender formation, so finding attacking gaps was not easy. Fortunately, we capitalized on two opportunities. In the second half, they switched to a four-defender line, which made it easier for us to find chances. We fully deserved today’s victory.”

However, Slutsky also expressed his hope that the team remains humble in victory and resilient in defeat: “The team’s confidence has always been there, but confidence is a double-edged sword. I hope we can stay humble when winning and not lose heart when losing.”

In this big win, two veterans, Wu Xi and Yu Hanchao, played crucial roles again—Wu Xi scored twice, while Yu Hanchao provided two assists.

Wu Xi’s two goals were both beautifully executed, showcasing his football intelligence. In the 27th minute, Liu Chengyu won back possession, Manafa spotted a gap and delivered a clever pass, and Wu Xi made a smart volley finish, scoring his 50th Chinese Super League goal and extending the lead to 2-0. This goal effectively crushed Meizhou Hakka’s hopes of a comeback.

In the 70th minute, Zhu Chenjie intercepted the ball near midfield and sent a through ball. Wu Xi calmly placed the ball into the far corner past the goalkeeper, completing his brace for the match. Wu Xi has now scored six goals this season.

Another veteran, Yu Hanchao, came on as a substitute in the 77th minute and, within about 20 minutes including stoppage time, assisted twice to help Shenhua extend their lead. At the 77th minute, Yu Hanchao combined beautifully with Yang Zexiang in a one-two pass, allowing Yang to score. During stoppage time, Wu Xi passed behind Meizhou Hakka’s defense to Yu Hanchao, who selflessly laid the ball off to an unmarked Yang Haoyu, who did not disappoint by scoring, sealing the final score at 6-1.

After the match, head coach Slutsky spoke about the two veterans: “Wu Xi has scored multiple goals this season, and Yu Hanchao always makes a significant impact whenever he appears on the field. Both senior players play vital leadership and exemplary roles in the team, providing tremendous support whenever they step onto the pitch.”

In the other two matches that evening, Shanghai Port narrowly defeated Wuhan Three Towns 3-2 at home with a last-minute winning goal. Meanwhile, Chengdu Rongcheng, despite leading 3-0 away, were held to a draw by Zhejiang. Following this round, the title race has shifted somewhat: Shanghai Port leads with 57 points, Chengdu Rongcheng is second with 55 after the draw, and Shenhua sits third with 54 points. With four rounds remaining, the championship battle is intensifying. After scoring in this match, Yang Zexiang expressed Shenhua’s current reality: “We will take it game by game, forget this match and prepare for the next. The league isn’t over yet, so don’t give up.”