Withstanding the pressure of their head coach's suspension, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers secured three consecutive victories, moving out of the relegation zone for the first time.

Written by Cheng Shan The 20th round of the Chinese Super League featured a six-point relegation showdown. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, sitting second from bottom, traveled to face Qingdao Hainiu, who were third from bottom. The match was officiated by a South Korean referee, underscoring its significance. Ultimately, goals from Xietine and Kileis gave Tianjin a 2-0 away victory. During Yu Genwei's three-match suspension, the team achieved three consecutive wins, leveling on points with Hainiu. With a superior goal difference and one game in hand, they climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time.

As direct relegation rivals, the two teams were in a tight spot before the match. Qingdao Hainiu and Tianjin Jinmen Tigers were separated by only three points, with Hainiu in third from bottom and Jinmen Tigers in second from bottom. Mentally, Tianjin had the advantage: they had one game in hand and had won two consecutive league matches, boosting their morale. In contrast, Hainiu's situation was worse—their new foreign player was injured early, and they had gone three matches without a win before this game. The result of this match would directly alter the relegation standings.

From the start, both teams committed fully. Hainiu pushed forward aggressively, while the midfield saw frequent turnovers. Tianjin's efficiency in transitioning from defense to attack was outstanding. Starting left-back Sun Mingqian was active, repeatedly drawing pressure to his flank. In the 33rd minute, Sun Mingqian completed a nutmeg and delivered a cut-back pass. Hainiu's defense, caught too high, failed to recover, leaving a huge gap. Xietine, arriving at the far post, calmly adjusted and slotted home from close range.

This goal stabilized Tianjin's morale. Earlier, Hainiu had two dangerous chances, but Song Wenjie's tap-in and Ezhuma's long shot both failed to find the net. In the first half, Tianjin had more possession, and although they had only 4 shots (1 on target) compared to Hainiu's 7 (2 on target), they were far more efficient. Aside from the goal, Cordoba and Xietine each missed a close-range opportunity.

After the break, Hainiu fought back fiercely, increasing their attacking intensity. However, they still struggled to create clear chances. In the second half, Hainiu took 12 shots but only 3 were on target, while Tianjin had 4 excellent opportunities from 9 shots. Yu Genwei, coaching remotely, adjusted the midfield and defense to withstand Hainiu's pressure. While stabilizing the defense, Tianjin sought to extend their lead. In injury time, Tianjin launched a counterattack from midfield. Hadas played a through ball to Kileis, who scored the decisive goal. This late goal not only gave Tianjin hope of survival but also pushed Qingdao Hainiu into a dire situation.

Winning such a crucial six-point match was a huge boost for Tianjin Jinmen Tigers. Especially in the three games where their head coach was absent from the touchline, they secured three clean victories, demonstrating strong team cohesion and resilience under relegation pressure.

Goal scorer Xietine said: "When our team was at the bottom of the table, we faced a lot of pressure, making matches very difficult. But throughout this process, we never gave up. We gave our all in every match and managed to turn things around in this round. This confidence will carry us into our next home game, and we will keep improving in the coming matches."

After this match, Tianjin Jinmen Tigers have 14 points, level with Qingdao Hainiu. Notably, Tianjin has one game in hand. With this victory, they leapfrogged Hainiu in the standings, moving to third from bottom and leaving the relegation zone for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Qingdao Hainiu, having lost the relegation battle, fell into the relegation zone for the second time this season, facing a very dangerous situation.

In another relegation battle, Wuhan Three Towns hosted second-placed Chongqing Tonglianglong and won 1-0, securing a crucial victory in their survival fight. Before the match, Wuhan had been pushed to the bottom by Tianjin's win. With this victory, Wuhan, with one game in hand, moved to second from bottom. This created a rare scenario where three teams at the bottom are tied on points, meaning every remaining round will reshape the relegation landscape.