Suzhou Dongnu claimed a 1-0 win over Meizhou Hakka in their League One clash on Saturday. The result leaves the hosts twelve points clear of the visitors in the table, though both sides have played twenty-two games. It was not the kind of match that sets pulses racing, but it was enough to keep Suzhou breathing easier at the halfway stage.
M. Ali settled the matter in the sixty-first minute, a goal that came after sustained pressure rather than a moment of magic. The hosts had created two big chances throughout the game and Ali took the one that mattered. Meizhou's goalkeeper was called into action five times, making saves that kept the scoreline respectable.
And here's the thing — Suzhou dominated possession at 53 per cent but could only muster six shots on target. They had six corners and eighteen crosses, yet the final ball often lacked precision. By then Meizhou had already gone behind and found themselves chasing the game, which explains why their shots accuracy dropped to a mere thirteen per cent.
The visitors had their moments. They won eighteen tackles to the hosts' six and managed twenty-eight successful long passes, showing they could work the ball out from the back. But when they pushed forward, they rarely threatened. Five shots within the penalty area produced just one on target, and that was not enough against a Suzhou defence that made twenty-one clearances.
To be fair, Meizhou had looked dangerous in their previous fixture, beating Dalian Huai 2-0 away from home. This time they could not replicate that form, and the result leaves them fifteen points behind the leaders with ten games remaining. Suzhou, meanwhile, have shown they can grind out results when the going gets tough — and that is worth a point.