Reporter Cheng Shan reports The 15th round of the 2026 Chinese Super League season has ended. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, deep in relegation trouble, played at home against Dalian Yingbo, a strong team sitting comfortably in the top three. With a first-half goal from Cordoba, Jinmen Tiger won 1-0 in an upset, ending their season-long home winless streak, claiming their first home win, and also recording their first victory in seven matches—their sole win in May. Of course, amid a packed schedule, they also capped off the first half of the season with an impressive comeback.

This victory is both timely and morale-boosting

Before this match, the two teams were in completely different situations. Dalian Yingbo boasts a deep squad, ranks third in the league, and has a mature attacking and defensive system. In contrast, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger had been in a slump, winless at home, at the bottom of the standings, and under immense public and relegation pressure. Few expected them to stop such a strong opponent.

From the start, Jinmen Tiger focused on defense and efficient counterattacks, effectively disrupting Dalian Yingbo's midfield passing rhythm. Offensively, they were bold in their runs, frequently threatening through wide attacks. In the 9th minute, Jinmen Tiger executed a fine combination: Hadas delivered a high-quality cross from the right, Yang Fan cleverly headed it back from the far post after a well-timed offside run, and Cordoba, arriving at the near post, slotted home easily. It was Cordoba's first goal since joining the team.

After taking the lead, Jinmen Tiger dropped deep, blocking the opponent's attacking lanes. Dalian Yingbo launched a fierce comeback, with Stanciu orchestrating several dangerous attacks and constant pressure upfront, but Jinmen Tiger's defense held firm. Despite Dalian Yingbo's all-out assault in the second half, pinning Jinmen Tiger in their own half and trying to equalize, the home side defended tenaciously, fighting for every ball, and held on to the 1-0 scoreline until the final whistle, securing a hard-earned victory driven by their desire for a first home win.

This home victory not only earned three crucial points but also encapsulated Jinmen Tiger's first half of the season. Looking back at the entire first half, Jinmen Tiger has walked an extremely difficult path—from the depths of a minus-10 point start, to clawing their way back to a positive points tally, and finally to securing their first home win. The team seems to be gradually improving. This win is both their first home victory of the season and their only win in the congested May schedule. Ending the half-season with such a result is certainly worth celebrating for Jinmen Tiger.

The second half brings both opportunities and challenges

At the start of the season, Jinmen Tiger carried a minus-10 point handicap, immediately trapped in a desperate situation. Under heavy pressure, the team's offensive and defensive performances were lackluster, failing to win for many early rounds, unable to secure a home victory despite consecutive home games, repeatedly disappointing fans' expectations, and facing a dangerously precarious relegation situation. External doubts and public criticism poured in, plunging the team into a rare low point since its establishment.

Despite lingering at the bottom of the table, the coaching staff continuously adjusted tactics to stabilize the players' mentality while focusing on defense and refining the attacking and defensive system. The team addressed earlier imbalances, strengthened midfield interception, optimized wide counterattack strategies, and continuously integrated the squad to activate player form. From passive collapses to stubborn resistance, from winless streaks to gradually earning points, Jinmen Tiger slowly climbed out of the prolonged slump, narrowing the points gap step by step, eventually escaping the negative points quagmire.

This round's home victory over Dalian Yingbo, their first home win of the season, could become a turning point for Jinmen Tiger this season. Currently, although the team still sits at the bottom of the standings, they are only five points away from the relegation safety line—a manageable gap. Moreover, this clean-sheet win against a strong league opponent effectively validated the team's tactical adjustments. A solid defensive system and efficient counterattacking style have become the core competitiveness for future points accumulation.

Looking at the overall situation of the first half, Jinmen Tiger's relegation battle is a mix of opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, securing their first home win heading into the break boosts the team's morale and cohesion, greatly enhancing their psychological advantage in future home matches. Additionally, the team's defensive stability has steadily improved, and their resilience in tough games has notably strengthened, giving them a direct edge in matches against mid-to-lower ranked opponents. However, there are also clear concerns: the team's goal-scoring efficiency in the first half was low, their attacking options were limited, and they struggled to break down packed defenses.

Despite securing their first home win of the season, Jinmen Tiger still sits at the bottom of the standings. Historical CSL data shows that most teams at the bottom after the first half have been relegated that season, but there are also examples of teams rallying in the second half and successfully staying up—most notably Shandong Taishan, who were at the bottom after the first half in both 2012 and 2016 before climbing to 10th and 14th place respectively. These cases remind Jinmen Tiger not to lose heart, but also that the road ahead is long and arduous. Every match from now on must be fought tooth and nail, especially critical head-to-head battles, to secure their place in the CSL.