Shanghai Port showcased their championship credentials with a commanding 3-1 victory over Henan on Wednesday, closing the gap on Chinese Super League leaders Beijing Guoan to just four points.
The defending champions struck first in the 32nd minute when Leonardo’s clever backheel found Li Xinxiang, who calmly slotted home to give the visitors the lead. Just before the halftime whistle, Gabrielzinho, on loan from Portuguese club Moreirense, unleashed a stunning one-touch strike into the top corner, marking his first goal for Shanghai Port in spectacular fashion.
Leonardo added to Henan’s woes moments later, finishing off a slick move to make it 3-0 before the break. Despite Henan pulling one back in the 70th minute through Frank Acheampong’s close-range header, Shanghai Port’s defense held firm. Even the late red card for Feng Jin didn’t derail their momentum, as they secured a crucial win in their pursuit of the title.
In other action, Wuhan Three Towns earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Shenzhen New Peng City. The hosts took the lead early in the second half with Tiago Leônço’s tidy finish. However, Wuhan responded when Alexandru Tudorie converted a penalty after Zhang Yujie’s foul on Manuel Palacios. Palacios then sealed the comeback with a composed finish 15 minutes from time, propelling the 2022 champions up to ninth place.
