BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) — In a highly charged match in the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Sunday, Qingdao West Coast pulled off a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against Shenzhen Peng City, prolonging Shenzhen’s losing streak to five matches. On the same day, Nantong Zhiyun, sitting at the bottom of the league table, snapped an 8-game winless spell with a narrow 2-1 win over Qingdao Hainiu.

The showdown between Qingdao West Coast and Shenzhen Peng City was nothing short of electrifying. The action kicked off early with Shenzhen’s Spanish midfielder Edu Garcia showcasing his skill. In the 7th minute, Garcia deftly back-heeled the ball to his Serbian teammate Rade Dugalic, who found the net with precision. Just six minutes later, Garcia himself doubled Shenzhen’s lead with a well-placed shot.

Despite the early setbacks, Qingdao West Coast responded with determination. In the 21st minute, Nelson Coquenao da Luz provided a crucial assist to Mateus Indio, who launched a stunning long-range strike to cut the deficit. Mere moments later, Nelson once again proved pivotal by setting up Zhang Xiuwei, who coolly equalized, bringing the score to 2-2 in the 23rd minute.

The drama continued until the very end. In the final moments of the match, Nelson capitalized on a defensive error by Li Zhi and forced an own goal from Garcia, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory for Qingdao West Coast. Reflecting on the game, Qingdao’s head coach Shao Jiayi remarked, “This was the toughest game since I took over the team. Coming back from two goals down within 15 minutes is difficult for any team.”

Meanwhile, Nantong Zhiyun achieved a critical 2-1 victory over Qingdao Hainiu, marking a turning point in their season. The first half saw Zheng Haoqian score for Nantong, giving them an early lead. Goalkeeper Mu Pengfei played a heroic role by saving a penalty, maintaining their advantage. However, the second half brought new challenges. Evans Kangwa equalized for Qingdao Hainiu through a penalty kick, and shortly after, Qingdao was reduced to 10 men when Liu Jiashun received a red card.

Taking full advantage of their numerical superiority, Zheng struck again to clinch the win for Nantong Zhiyun. After the match, Zheng emphasized the collective effort behind their triumph: “I was just the man that finished the shots, but it was the whole team’s effort in passes and cooperation. This win is for the fans, who have been waiting a long time for this.”

In another CSL match, Zhejiang FC and Cangzhou Mighty Lions played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, further intensifying the competitive spirit in the league.

This weekend’s matches showcased not only individual brilliance but also the collective determination and strategic play inherent in football. As teams strive to climb the CSL rankings, fans can expect more high-stakes drama and thrilling encounters.