The Chinese Super League’s sixth round delivered a mix of familiar patterns and surprising shifts, with defending champions Shanghai Port held to a draw by Shandong Taishan while Tianjin Jinmen Tiger finally broke their duck for the season. The results, played out across various venues on April 20 and 21, 2024, underscored the growing competitiveness of the league as traditional powers face renewed challenges from mid-table clubs seeking to establish consistency.
In the headline fixture at Jinan’s Shandong Provincial Stadium, Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Port played to a 1-1 stalemate, a result that left both sides with mixed feelings. Port, aiming to reclaim the summit after a slow start, saw their lead at the top trimmed as Chengdu Rongcheng continued their impressive run elsewhere. Taishan, meanwhile, will seize encouragement from a resilient performance against one of the league’s most potent attacks, though they remain aware of the need to convert such performances into wins if they are to challenge for honors.
The breakthrough moment for Tianjin came in their home encounter with Meizhou Hakka, where a second-half goal from forward Adrian Lazar secured a 1-0 victory — the club’s first of the 2024 campaign. After five matches without a win, the relief was palpable among players and supporters alike, with the result lifting Jinmen Tiger off the bottom of the table and injecting renewed belief into their survival bid. Lazar’s goal, a composed finish after a swift counterattack, proved decisive in a tightly contested match where both sides created chances but failed to capitalize until the 68th minute.
Elsewhere in the round, Chengdu Rongcheng maintained their perfect start with a 2-0 victory over Zhejiang Professional, extending their lead at the top of the table to four points. Goals from Felipe and Wilmar Barrios either side of halftime showcased the squad’s attacking depth and tactical discipline under head coach Sergio Loaiza. The win marked Chengdu’s sixth consecutive victory across all competitions, a run that has seen them score 18 goals while conceding just two.
Shanghai Shenha, despite missing several key international players due to national team duties, managed a narrow 1-0 win over Qingdao Hainiu through a late penalty converted by Wu Lei. The result kept them in second place, though they remain aware that dropping points against sides they are expected to beat could prove costly in a tightly contested title race. Shenha’s defense, marshaled by veteran Li Lei, held firm for much of the game, but they will need to improve their creativity in midfield if they are to sustain pressure on Chengdu.
The round also saw significant movement in the relegation battle, with Meizhou Hakka’s loss to Tianjin leaving them rooted in the bottom three alongside Nantong Zhiyun and Changchun Yatai. All three clubs have now lost five of their six matches, highlighting the gulf in quality that has emerged early in the season between the established elite and those fighting to avoid the drop. For Meizhou, the defeat was particularly disappointing given their strong away form in recent seasons, suggesting that adapting to the demands of top-flight consistency remains a perform in progress.
Shandong Taishan’s Tactical Resilience Earns Hard-Fought Point
Shandong Taishan’s performance against Shanghai Port was notable for its defensive organization and tactical discipline, particularly in the first half when they successfully nullified Port’s usual dominance in possession. Coach Choi Kang-hee opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation that emphasized compactness between the lines, with midfielders Zheng Zheng and Dai Linyu tasked with shielding the back four while allowing attacking midfielder Chen Kerui the freedom to operate in the half-spaces.
The strategy bore fruit early, as Taishan absorbed pressure and struck on the break through a swift move finished by Gao Zhunyi in the 23rd minute. The goal came against the run of play but rewarded Taishan’s patience and willingness to exploit the spaces left by Port’s high defensive line. For much of the remainder of the half, Taishan looked the more likely to add a second, with Port struggling to create clear chances despite their 62% possession.
However, the introduction of Oscar and Luiz Felipe at halftime changed the dynamic, with the Brazilian duo adding creativity and directness to Port’s attack. Their influence grew steadily, and it was Luiz Felipe who eventually found the equalizer in the 67th minute, curling a left-footed effort from the edge of the box into the top corner after a one-two with Wu Lei. The goal was a moment of individual brilliance that ultimately denied Taishan what would have been a landmark victory.
Despite the late concession, Taishan’s performance will be viewed positively by their supporters, particularly given the injuries that have disrupted their squad depth this season. The absence of key players like Fellaini and Liu Yang has forced Choi to rely on younger or less experienced options, making their ability to compete with the league’s best even more impressive. Moving forward, maintaining this level of defensive resilience while improving their efficiency in the final third will be key to their aspirations of challenging for a top-four finish.
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger’s Long-Awaited Victory Sparks Hope
For Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, the victory over Meizhou Hakka represented more than just three points — it was a psychological breakthrough after a difficult start to the season that had seen them concede early goals in four of their first five matches. The 1-0 win, secured through Adrian Lazar’s second-half strike, was built on a foundation of improved defensive organization and greater urgency in transition.
Coach Yu Genwei made a tactical adjustment at halftime, shifting from a 4-3-3 to a more compact 4-2-3-1 that allowed midfielders Zhu Jiaxuan and Liu Yu to provide better cover for the defense while enabling Lazar to operate in a more advanced role. The change paid immediate dividends, as Tianjin began to win the ball higher up the pitch and create chances through quick vertical passes.
Lazar’s goal, his third of the season, came after a well-worked move down the right flank that saw Liu Yu release Adrian Maboulou, whose cross was met by the Romanian striker with a composed first-time finish. The celebration that followed reflected the magnitude of the moment for a squad that had begun to doubt its ability to grind out results in tight matches. For Lazar, personally, the goal was a vindication of his decision to remain in China despite interest from European clubs during the winter window.
The win also provided a much-needed boost to Tianjin’s survival hopes, as they now sit just two points above the relegation zone with a game in hand over several of their direct rivals. While the squad remains thin in certain areas — particularly at fullback and in central defense — the belief generated by this result could prove crucial as they enter a run of fixtures against sides similarly positioned in the table. If they can build on this performance with consistency, avoiding the drop remains a realistic objective.
Chengdu Rongcheng’s Perfect Start Continues Amid Growing Title Ambitions
Chengdu Rongcheng’s 2-0 win over Zhejiang Professional extended their flawless start to the season and reinforced their status as the team to beat in the 2024 Chinese Super League. The victory, secured through goals from Brazilian midfielder Felipe in the 38th minute and Colombian international Wilmar Barrios in the 52nd, showcased the blend of technical quality and physical presence that has made them so difficult to break down.
Felipe’s opener came from a moment of individual brilliance, as he collected the ball just outside the box, turned his defender, and curled a left-footed effort into the top corner — a goal that typified his influence on the team’s play. Barrios, meanwhile, continued his impressive adaptation to Chinese football with a powerful header from a corner kick, underlining his importance both as a defensive anchor and an aerial threat in both boxes.
The result left Chengdu with a perfect 18 points from six matches, a tally that includes victories over traditional powers like Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenha. Their defensive record — just two goals conceded in six games — is the best in the league, while their attack has shown versatility, scoring through open play, set pieces, and individual moments of quality. For a club that was promoted to the top flight only in 2022, this level of sustained excellence represents a remarkable achievement.
Head coach Sergio Loaiza has been instrumental in this transformation, implementing a high-pressing, possession-based system that emphasizes verticality and quick transitions. His man-management has also been praised, particularly in how he has integrated overseas players like Felipe and Barrios into a cohesive unit while maintaining the contributions of domestic talents such as Wei Lai and Liu Yiming. With the title race now taking shape, Chengdu will need to maintain this level of performance over the full course of a grueling season — but for now, they stand as the benchmark against which others are measured.
Shanghai Shenha Narrow Victory Keeps Title Hopes Alive
Shanghai Shenha’s 1-0 win over Qingdao Hainiu, while not spectacular, was a testament to their ability to grind out results even when not at their best. The absence of several key players — including internationals Wang Senchao and Chen Binbin, who were on national team duty — meant that coach Kevin Lu had to rely on squad depth, with younger players like Zhang Yuning and Liu Chaoyang given starting roles.
The game itself was a tight affair, with both sides struggling to create clear chances in the first half. Qingdao, energized by their recent form and buoyed by the support of their traveling fans, looked the more likely to break the deadlock early on, but Shenha’s defense, anchored by the experienced Li Lei and the increasingly reliable Zhang Linpeng, held firm. It was not until the 78th minute that Shenha found their breakthrough, as Wu Lei stepped up to convert a penalty awarded after a handball by Qingdao’s defender Liu Ji.
The goal, Wu Lei’s fourth of the season, was taken with his usual composure, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to secure the three points. While the performance lacked the fluency and creativity that have characterized Shenha’s best displays this season, the willingness to win ugly — to secure results through discipline and determination — is itself a hallmark of championship-caliber teams. For Shenha, the challenge now lies in maintaining this level of consistency while awaiting the return of their key players, whose influence could be decisive in the run-in.
The result also highlighted the growing importance of Wu Lei as Shenha’s talisman and primary goal threat. Despite interest from clubs abroad during previous transfer windows, Wu has remained loyal to his boyhood club, and his contributions — both on and off the pitch — have been vital to their competitiveness. As the season progresses, his ability to stay fit and influential will be a key factor in Shenha’s hopes of challenging for the title.
Relegation Battle Intensifies as Struggling Sides Search for Answers
At the opposite end of the table, the relegation battle is already taking shape, with Meizhou Hakka, Nantong Zhiyun, and Changchun Yatai all winless after six matches and separated by just a single point. Meizhou’s loss to Tianjin left them on three points, while Nantong and Changchun remain on four and five respectively — a precarious position given the historical points totals required to avoid relegation in recent seasons.
For Meizhou, the defeat was particularly disappointing given their strong start to the season, which had seen them earn draws against Shandong Taishan and Chengdu Rongcheng. However, their inability to convert those performances into wins has begun to take its toll, and the loss to Tianjin exposed vulnerabilities in both defense and midfield that opponents are likely to exploit. Coach Sergio Cardozo will need to find answers quickly, particularly in terms of creating more scoring opportunities and improving their set-piece defense.
Nantong Zhiyun, meanwhile, have shown flashes of promise but have lacked consistency, with their four points coming from draws against Shenzhen Pengcheng and Qingdao Hainiu. Their reliance on individual brilliance — particularly from foreign players like Stefan Šćepović and John Mary — has been evident, but they will need greater collective cohesion if they are to climb clear of the danger zone. Changchun Yatai, despite their slightly better points total, have struggled to score, managing just three goals in six matches — the worst return in the league.
The early stage of the season means that recovery is still possible for all three clubs, but the window for turning things around is narrowing. With the next round of fixtures featuring matches against similarly positioned sides, the coming weeks could prove decisive in shaping the final relegation picture. For fans of these clubs, the hope remains that a change in fortune — whether through tactical adjustment, new signings, or simply a return to form — can still preserve their top-flight status.
As the Chinese Super League moves into its seventh round, the early signs suggest a season defined by competitiveness at both ends of the table. While Chengdu Rongcheng appear to have set a benchmark others must chase, the battle for survival is already proving as intense as the race for the title. With each match carrying heightened significance, the coming weeks will reveal which teams have the resilience and quality to achieve their respective goals.
For ongoing updates, match schedules, and official league standings, visit the Chinese Football Association’s official website or follow the Chinese Super League’s verified social media channels. Share your thoughts on the latest results in the comments below, and help spread the conversation by sharing this article with fellow fans.