Shenzhen Junior Edge Yanbian in Penalty Decider
Yanbian Longding fell to Shenzhen Junior 0-1 in the eighteenth round of the One League on Sunday. The result leaves Yanbian fifth on 35 points while the visitors move closer to the top two on 42 points.
The match stayed goalless until the hour mark, when J. Nouble stepped up to convert a penalty in the thirty-eighth minute. By then both sides were already feeling the pressure, with Yanbian's Piao Shihao and Jin Taiyan picking up yellow cards in the first half.
Shenzhen Junior kept their shape and their goalkeeper made three saves to see out the game. Yanbian dominated possession at 58 percent but could only manage three shots on target from seven attempts, none of which troubled the opposition keeper.
Both managers shuffled their packs after the break. Yanbian brought on Wang Zihao, Zhao Yingjie and Liu Xiaolong, while Shenzhen Junior introduced Duan Dezhi alongside Nouble in the eighty-sixth minute.
Shenzhen Junior had created two big chances compared to Yanbian's nil, and their five interceptions showed they were comfortable sitting deep and soaking it up. Yanbian threw 28 crosses into the box but only seven landed, while the visitors managed just one corner.
The visitors carried two yellow cards, while Yanbian's trio of bookings included Shi Yucheng and a late double from Li Shibin and G. Zhu in the eightieth minute. Yanbian had won two of their last five league games, while Shenzhen Junior were still searching for a win after four matches without one.
The result tightens the gap at the top of the table. Shenzhen Junior move within seven points of the leaders, while Yanbian remain stuck in mid-table with five defeats already.