Shandong Taishan edged past Shanghai SIPG 1-0 in the Chinese Super League's Regular Season round 21 on August first. Zeca struck early to give the visitors the lead, and despite a storm of attacks from the home side, the away end never stopped defending. The result keeps both clubs in the top six, with Shandong sitting sixth on 37 points and Shanghai seventh on 33.
Zeca's fifth-minute opener set the tone for what followed. Shanghai threw men forward, but their chances evaporated when VAR cancelled P. O. Ampem's effort just before half-time, and then X. Li's goal later in the second half was also disallowed. Mateus Vital could have added a second after the break, but his penalty was missed — a cruel twist for hosts who had clawed their way back into the contest.
The match was punctuated by disciplinary issues. Huang Zhengyu received two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off in the 64th minute, leaving Shanghai with ten men for the final quarter. Chen Pu and Jean Claude had already been booked, while Wei Zhen and Yusup Umidjan picked up yellow cards later on. By then the game was effectively decided.
Shanghai dominated possession at 70 per cent and registered 123 attacks compared to Shandong's 57. They fired 15 shots on goal, but only four of the visitors' attempts found the target. The statistics suggest Shanghai created plenty but couldn't convert — many shots with one goal means chances went begging. Their keeper made three saves; Shandong's man-made seven.
Shanghai's recent form showed promise before this setback. They beat Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 and drew with Sichuan Junqu on their last two outings. Shandong, meanwhile, had lost their previous game against Henan and drew with Wuhan Three Towns. The table goes out of the window in these games, but both sides remain in contention for European qualification spots.
Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half as both managers searched for answers. Jean Claude was replaced at half-time, while Mijit Mewlan, Liu Zhurun, V. Qazaishvili, Guilherme Madruga, and Mateus Vital all entered the fray. Shanghai handed a debut to none of them, but the changes reflected the urgency of chasing an equaliser.
Shandong held firm despite playing with ten men for the last twenty minutes. Huang Zhengyu's second booking and subsequent dismissal came after he had already been cautioned, and the team simply saw it out. The away end never stopped, and when the final whistle blew, there was nothing more to play for. Three points for Shandong, frustration for Shanghai.