CSL Round 21: Tianjin Stun Yukun with Late Comeback, Taishan End Slump at Harbour
The Chinese Super League delivered a dramatic Round 21 as Tianjin Jinmen Tiger staged a remarkable three-goal comeback to beat Yunnan Yukun 3-2, while Shandong Taishan secured a gritty 1-0 away victory over Shanghai Port in interim coach Tang Tian’s debut, according to China News Service.
Tianjin’s Late Surge
At the TEDA Football Stadium, Yunnan Yukun appeared to be cruising to victory after Kayo opened the scoring in the 32nd minute and Oscar doubled the lead with a header in the 61st minute — his 15th league goal of the season. But Tianjin launched a stunning late rally that left the visitors shell-shocked.
Ji Shengpan pulled one back in the 84th minute, and Salvador’s header from Hadas’ corner in the 93rd minute leveled the score. With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Kiles delivered the decisive blow in the 98th minute, finishing from Liu Junxian’s assist to complete a breathtaking turnaround.
The victory extended Tianjin’s winning streak to four matches and lifted them to 14th place with 17 points, two clear of the relegation zone. Yunnan Yukun remained fourth with 28 points, as txzqzhibo reported.
Taishan’s Defiant Display
At the Pudong Football Stadium, Shandong Taishan produced a heroic defensive performance to overcome Shanghai Port. Zeka’s fourth-minute header from Maiwulang’s cross gave the visitors a dream start, but the match turned tense when Huang Zhengyu was sent off in the 63rd minute for a deliberate handball — his second yellow card.
Playing with ten men, Taishan’s goalkeeper Yu Jinyong emerged as the hero. He made eight saves throughout the match, including a crucial penalty stop from Vital in the 73rd minute. Li Xinxiang’s follow-up from the saved penalty was disallowed by VAR for encroachment. Three Shanghai Port goals were also ruled out during the match for offside or fouls, as CCTV Sports detailed.
The result marked Taishan’s first away win against Shanghai Port in 11 years and ended a streak of 15 consecutive rounds in which they had conceded goals. It also ended a two-game losing streak for the club, which had undergone a coaching change just days earlier.
New Era Under Tang Tian
On July 28, Shandong Taishan announced that head coach Su Maozhen and coaching group leader Han Peng had resigned for personal reasons, with Tang Tian appointed as interim head coach, as Zhibo8 reported. The team had suffered two consecutive league losses before his appointment.
Tang Tian’s debut could hardly have gone better. Speaking after the match, he praised his team’s character and resilience. “This is a reflection of the finite and the infinite,” he said. “The team showed infinite spiritual qualities in a finite amount of match time. Tactics can be polished and adjusted in the short term, but the fighting character carved into one’s bones is hard to change.”
When asked to rate his team’s defensive display, Tang was characteristically generous: “If the defensive score is out of 100, our defense today deserves 120 points,” he told Shandong TV Sports. He also explained his tactical adjustments, noting that he observed Shanghai Port’s left-side foreign player putting significant pressure on Maiwulang, prompting substitutions to balance the defensive situation.
Player Liu Yang echoed the coach’s sentiments, saying: “The head coach assigned very clear tasks to each player before the match, and everyone’s execution was outstanding.”
Standings Shake-Up
The Round 21 results significantly reshaped the CSL table. Chengdu Rongcheng maintained their commanding 14-point lead at the top with 45 points despite a fifth consecutive draw, while Qingdao West Coast’s 2-0 derby victory over Qingdao Hainiu lifted them to second place, according to Sina Sports.
Shandong Taishan moved to sixth with 27 points, while Shanghai Port — the defending champions — remain in 12th with 19 points, dangerously close to the relegation zone. Shanghai Shenhua’s 1-3 loss to Liaoning Tieren marked their third consecutive defeat, deepening their own relegation concerns.
What’s Next
With Chengdu Rongcheng holding a seemingly insurmountable lead, attention now shifts to the intense relegation battle. Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua, two of China’s most storied clubs, find themselves fighting for survival in the lower half of the table.
For Shandong Taishan, the question is whether Tang Tian’s debut victory signals a genuine turnaround or merely a temporary boost. The interim coach’s emphasis on fighting spirit and defensive solidity suggests a pragmatic approach for the remainder of the season. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, meanwhile, will look to extend their winning run and climb further away from danger.
As the CSL season enters its final stretch, the drama of Round 21 has set the stage for a compelling conclusion to the campaign.