Shenhua extend unbeaten run, Qingdao still winless in CSL

Shanghai Shenhua extended its unbeaten streak in the Chinese Super League (CSL) with a 1-0 away victory over Shandong Taishan on Saturday, while Qingdao Hainiu remains winless as the ninth round concluded on Sunday.

After a goalless first half, in the 78th minute, Brazilian striker Andre Luis made a breakthrough on the left wing and delivered a precise cross, allowing substitute Gao Tianyi to score with a header. This goal secured Shenhua's fourth consecutive victory, allowing them to maintain the top position in the CSL table with seven wins and two draws.

Aziz Yakubu (R) of Qingdao West Coast vies with Lucas Possignolo of Zhejiang Greentown FC during the 9th round match between Zhejiang Greentown FC and Qingdao West Coast at the 2025 season Chinese Football Super League (CSL) in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)

Second-placed Chengdu Rongcheng secured a 2-1 away win over Changchun Yatai, extending its unbeaten streak to seven matches and maintaining a strong challenge for the title, three points behind Shenhua.

Felipe's header was saved in the fifth minute, but Yuan Mincheng quickly followed up to score. In the 49th minute, Felipe provided an assist to Wei Shihao, who scored with a header for Rongcheng.

Despite Tan Long assisting Beric to pull one back for Yatai two minutes later, the home side had to settle with another disappointing defeat. With just five points from 1 win, 2 draws, and 6 losses, Yatai is on the brink of relegation in second to the bottom.

While title contenders continued to notch wins, with defending champion Shanghai Port defeating Yunnan Yukun 3-2 and Beijing Guoan edging Henan FC 1-0, teams at the other end of the standings are finding it difficult to recover.

In the 12th minute of the match between Meizhou Hakka and Qingdao Hainiu, Ngom Mbekeli broke the deadlock with a pass from Rodrigo Henrique, giving Hakka a 1-0 lead. In the 81st minute, Wellington Silva came off the bench to win a penalty, which he converted to equalize the score for a 1-1 draw, leaving bottom-placed Qingdao Hainiu with just 3 points from 3 draws and 6 losses.

Elsewhere, Shenzhen Peng City drew with newly-promoted Dalian Yingbo 1-1, while Wuhan Three Towns came from behind to defeat Tianjin Jinmen Tigers 2-1. Zhejiang FC secured a 2-1 home win over Qingdao West Coast.

The top four teams will match up in the next round, with Chengdu Rongcheng hosting Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port facing Beijing Guoan.