Shannxi Union beat Yanbian Longding 3-1 in League One's regular season round 21 on Friday. The hosts recovered from a first-half deficit to claim all three points and move within six points of fourth place.
Cao Kang opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute with a clinical finish. Yanbian responded through Giovanny, who levelled matters in the thirty-ninth after a sustained period of pressure. Wei Zhiwei restored Shannxi's lead just before half-time, slotting home in the forty-fifth minute plus three. The hosts had picked up two bookings in five minutes by then — Feng Boyuan and Cao Kang both saw yellow cards.
The second half saw Shannxi control the tempo. R. El Azrak sealed the victory in the eightieth-sixth minute after a well-worked move down the left flank. Yanbian made several changes in search of an equaliser but could not break through. Shannxi's manager got his substitutions spot on, introducing fresh legs when the game was already slipping away from the visitors.
Shannxi registered six shots on target compared to Yanbian's two, with possession split at 49 per cent to 51. The hosts created four big chances while Yanbian managed none. Many shots with one goal means chances went begging — Yanbian held more of the ball but had nothing to do in the final third.
The result leaves Shannxi sixth on 29 points from 20 games, one place and six points behind Yanbian in fourth after their 21st match. This was the visitors' fourth defeat in six league outings, ending a run where they had only lost once.