Shandong Taishan hosted Sichuan Junqiu in the Super League regular season. The final score stood at 1:1, a result that followed logically from the events. The hosts opened the scoring in the 1-minute mark, only to find themselves down a man before half-time.
Cryzan da Cruz Queiroz Barcelos struck first, netting a goal at the 1-minute mark. To be fair, he did not enjoy the advantage for long, picking up a red card at 29 minutes. The game was quiet between the 20th and 25th minutes, a lull that masked the tension building up.
Three changes arrived at the 45-minute whistle, bringing in Yu Rui, Li Yuanyi, and Mewlan Mijit. The coaching staff looked to organise the defence after the dismissal. It is a common adjustment, though by then the visitors were already settling into their rhythm. While the camera focused on the ball, I watched the defensive shape shift.
And here's the thing about possession: Sichuan held 62 percent but struggled to break the resistance. Dai Wai-Tsun finally broke through at 68 minutes to level the score. The visitors created more chances, yet the hosts kept their side in it with disciplined defence. Yellow cards for Yang Yiming and Tang Miao highlighted the physical nature of the contest. Sichuan fired 8 shots on target compared to the hosts' single effort.
Shandong Taishan remains in sixth place with 37 points after 26 matches. Sichuan Junqiu sits eleventh with 28 points, a gap that feels too large for a draw. This result ends a poor run for both sides following their recent defeats.