Written by Cheng Shan In the 22nd round of the Chinese Super League, seventh-ranked Tianjin Jinmen Tigers traveled to challenge the top-ranked Shanghai Port. Having won only once in their last five games, Jinmen Tigers, even after a full-strength midweek away match against Zhejiang, did not rotate their squad. Except for the injured Ademi, Yu Genwei deployed nearly his full first team against the stronger Shanghai Port.

Although Shanghai Port deployed their full-strength five foreign players, this time the tireless Jinmen Tigers managed a draw that knocked Shanghai Port off the top spot. Having previously defeated title contenders Chengdu Rongcheng twice and drawn twice with Beijing Guoan, Jinmen Tigers’ ability to hold Shanghai Port at their home ground further proves their solid capability.

Passive on the field but successfully contained the opponent

Before this match, Shanghai Port had just climbed to the top of the league table with a record of 14 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, scoring 51 goals—the highest in the Chinese Super League. They were eager to win to consolidate their position. Last season, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers suffered heavy defeats to Shanghai Port in the FA Cup, league, and all three encounters. In this season’s first meeting at home, fielding a rotated squad, they lost 1-4. Therefore, this rematch attracted significant attention.

In this match, besides the injured Ademi, all four foreign players started for Jinmen Tigers. Compared to the previous game against Zhejiang, domestic players Yang Zihao, Huang Jiahui, and Xie Weijun were in the starting lineup. Before the match, Yu Genwei said, “We will face the current top-ranked team in the league. This is both a learning experience and a test for us. We will play with utmost respect and give our all, hoping to achieve a good result.”

In the opening phase, Jinmen Tigers pressed actively, forcing the opponent’s defense into poor distribution, often resorting to back passes. After failing to capitalize early, Jinmen Tigers gradually retreated to a more compact shape, ceding possession. Shanghai Port repeatedly attacked down the left flank, with Li Shuai’s runs and crosses consistently creating threats. Jinmen Tigers defended deep in their penalty area, facing considerable pressure. Within the first 6 minutes, they conceded three corners from wing errors. Central defender Ross received the match’s first yellow card at the 8th minute defending Leonardo. At the 10th minute, Wang Xianjun fouled Liu Ruofan after losing possession inside the box, resulting in a penalty decisively awarded by the Jordanian referee. Gabriel converted the spot-kick to open the scoring.

At the 18th minute, Yang Zihao received a yellow card for a sliding tackle on Leonardo, accumulating four yellows and facing suspension for the next round. Within 20 minutes, Jinmen Tigers’ defense had two yellow cards, increasing defensive pressure. Throughout the first half, Jinmen Tigers were mostly dominated by the opponent; Shanghai Port’s wing attacks created multiple chances but failed to convert. Fortunately, as the game reached a stalemate, Jinmen Tigers found an equalizing opportunity. In the 42nd minute, during a counterattack, a simple pass-and-move saw Kielis find space and score after beating the defender, leveling the score. “The coach told us to stay stable with the ball. The opponent is vulnerable when switching from attack to defense, and we needed better breakthroughs. We showed that today,” Kielis said in a post-match interview, confirming Yu Genwei identified Shanghai Port’s weakness.

Gaining 1 point also means self-improvement

In the second half, Jinmen Tigers made the first substitution, replacing the booked Yang Zihao with Sun Mingqian. Jinmen Tigers remained on the back foot, but Shanghai Port’s attacks lacked decisive efficiency. At the 61st minute, Yu Genwei substituted Wang Qiuming and Wang Xianjun for Yang Fan and Liu Junxian. Shanghai Port had already replaced Vital and Wang Shenchao earlier. As Shanghai Port’s fitness waned, Jinmen Tigers pushed their formation forward, increasing offensive threats against goalkeeper Yan Junling, even outshooting Shanghai Port at times. In the closing stages, Jinmen Tigers resisted Shanghai Port’s relentless attacks but failed to score again, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

After consecutive away games and playing under high temperatures, Jinmen Tigers’ stamina and fatigue levels were much higher than in the first half of the season. However, this time, they not only ended their losing streak against the opponent but also caused Shanghai Port to lose the top spot they had not firmly secured, with Shanghai Shenhua reclaiming first place.

For Jinmen Tigers themselves, this match clearly held greater significance than an ordinary league game. With no relegation worries, the team has the potential to push for a higher ranking. Even this single point helps them maintain competitiveness with other mid-table teams.

After the match, Yu Genwei stated, “This was an extremely exciting game. I am very satisfied with the overall performance of the players because playing away against a team like Shanghai Port requires us to maintain solid defense. The defensive system functioning properly is very important. Apart from the mistake that led to the penalty in the first half, I think the team’s defense was good overall. We also knew that in the second half, Shanghai Port might bring on more impactful or distinctive players, which required us to respond better. Overall, I think the players performed well and I am quite pleased with their performance on both offense and defense.”