The Chinese Super League (CSL) returned this week after a nearly month-long international break, bringing excitement back to football fans across the nation. On Friday, Wuhan Three Towns secured a 2-0 home victory against Qingdao Hainiu, marking their first win in four games.
The match kicked off with high energy as Alexandru Tudorie went down in the penalty area just three minutes in, but after a VAR review, no penalty was awarded due to an offside call. Undeterred, Wuhan took the lead nine minutes later when Manuel Palacios set up Tudorie, who netted his sixth league goal of the season.
Wuhan continued to dominate, capitalizing on a defensive error in the 32nd minute. Darlan Mendes delivered a precise pass to Gustavo Sauer, who headed the ball into the net, doubling Wuhan’s advantage.
Qingdao Hainiu attempted a comeback in the second half, with Wellington Silva’s shot narrowly missing the target in the 50th minute. In the 74th minute, Feng Boyuan appeared to pull one back for Qingdao, but his goal was ruled offside. The match concluded with Wuhan Three Towns rising to 11th place in the league standings, while Qingdao Hainiu remained at 15th.
In another thrilling encounter, Dalian Yingbo hosted Meizhou Hakka in an emotional match that saw fans paying tribute to retiring veteran Fei Yu. In the 28th minute, a massive TIFO was unveiled to honor the 34-year-old Shanghai native, who announced his retirement after an impressive career spanning 228 professional matches.
The game’s decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Cephas Malele outmuscled a defender and crossed the ball to Zhu Pengyu. Zhu slid in to score a brilliant goal, securing a 1-0 victory for Dalian Yingbo.
As the match neared its end, Fei Yu entered the field as a substitute. In a touching gesture, Malele handed him the captain’s armband, and the crowd of 59,000 fans gave Fei a standing ovation. Fei Yu fulfilled his dream of playing in the Chinese Super League at the age of 31, helping Dalian Yingbo earn promotion to the top flight three years ago.
The return of the CSL brought memorable moments and emotional farewells, showcasing the passion and dedication within Chinese football.
