Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 Wuhan Three Towns: Leading the CSL with 20 Points After 8 Matches, Two Disallowed Goals for Wuhan, Deng Zhuoxiang's First Defeat

On April 19th, Shanghai Shenhua hosted Wuhan Three Towns in the 8th round of the Chinese Super League (CSL). The match ended with a 2-0 victory for Shenhua, thanks to goals from Teixeira and Andre Luiz. Despite Wuhan's best efforts, two of their goals were ruled out for offside after VAR review. With this win, Shenhua extended their unbeaten start to the season, collecting 20 points from 8 matches, staying at the top of the CSL standings. For Wuhan Three Towns, the loss marked the first defeat of Deng Zhuoxiang’s tenure as the club's interim head coach after taking over for the previously struggling squad.

Shenhua’s Impressive Start: Top of the League

Shanghai Shenhua came into this match with an impressive record of 5 wins and 2 draws, amassing 17 points and occupying the top spot in the league. Their strong performance so far has seen them remain undefeated, making them a formidable opponent for anyone in the CSL. Wuhan Three Towns, on the other hand, were struggling at the bottom of the table, with just 1 win, 2 draws, and 4 losses, leaving them with 5 points and sitting in 13th place.

Despite their poor form, Wuhan Three Towns had managed to pick up some momentum under the guidance of Deng Zhuoxiang, the club's interim head coach. In his first two games, he had led the team to a 3-1 victory over Yunnan Yukun and a 4-4 draw against Beijing Guoan, providing a glimmer of hope for the team. However, facing an in-form Shenhua squad was always going to be a tough challenge.

For this match, Shenhua lined up with their usual three foreign players: Andre Luiz, Teixeira, and Manafá, with former Wuhan player Xie Pengfei included in the starting XI. Wuhan Three Towns, meanwhile, fielded four foreign players, but were without the injured Tudor. Zheng Haoqian was given the responsibility of leading the line as the center forward, but his efforts would not be enough to breach the solid defense of Shenhua.

The Opening Goal: A Mistake Leads to Shenhua's Advantage

The match started with both teams trying to impose themselves, but it was Shenhua who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. Wuhan Three Towns’ goalkeeper, Shao Puliang, made a critical mistake when his attempted pass out of the back was intercepted by Xie Pengfei. The ball was quickly fed to Teixeira, who set up Andre Luiz for a shot. The attempt deflected off He Guan and wrong-footed the goalkeeper, with the ball trickling into the net to give Shenhua the 1-0 lead.

The goal was a result of a significant error from Shao, who had failed to execute a simple pass under pressure, leading to an easy opportunity for Shenhua. The deflection off He Guan made the save impossible for Shao, leaving Shenhua with the early advantage.

Wuhan Three Towns tried to recover from the setback and responded with a few attacking moves. In the 27th minute, Yang Haoyu sent in a dangerous cross from the right, which found Andre Luiz in the air. His header required a spectacular save from Shao Puliang, who was quick to react and kept the score at 1-0 with a superb diving stop. However, it was clear that Shenhua had the upper hand in the first half, with 9 shots and 3 on target, while Wuhan only managed 4 shots, with 2 on target. Xie Pengfei was particularly impressive, linking up the play with his vision and creativity, and was the standout performer for Shenhua in the opening 45 minutes.

Second Half: Shenhua Double Their Lead

After the break, Shenhua looked to control the match and add to their lead. In the 49th minute, they struck again. Andre Luiz was fouled by Ren Hang, and Shenhua earned a free kick just outside the penalty box. Andre Luiz took the set piece himself, delivering a powerful strike that went through the wall, bounced in front of Shao Puliang, and despite his efforts to save it, the ball found its way into the net. The 2-0 lead was secured, with Andre Luiz scoring his 4th goal of the season.

The goal sent the Shenhua fans into raptures, with the team comfortably in control. At this point, Wuhan Three Towns appeared to be on the back foot, unable to break down Shenhua's defense or create meaningful chances. The two-goal advantage seemed insurmountable for Deng Zhuoxiang’s side, as they struggled to regain their rhythm.

Disallowed Goals for Wuhan: VAR Controversy

Despite trailing by two goals, Wuhan Three Towns showed resilience and managed to find the back of the net twice in quick succession. In the 66th minute, Palacios sent in a cross from the right to Zheng Haoqian, who finished with a simple tap-in. However, the assistant referee flagged for offside, and after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out. The review lasted nearly 3 minutes, and while the decision was clear, the broadcast failed to show a detailed offside line, leaving some questions about the clarity of the decision.

Wuhan had another chance in the 87th minute when Palacios shot from inside the box and Zhong Jinbao finished the rebound. However, once again, the VAR system intervened and ruled that Zhong Jinbao was offside when the shot was taken, nullifying the goal. This marked the second time in the match that Wuhan had their goal disallowed due to offside.

Despite the disallowed goals, Wuhan Three Towns showed little threat going forward in the second half. They only managed 2 shots in the second half, and neither was on target. It was clear that Palacios’s individual talent was not enough to ignite the team’s attack, and the lack of clinical finishing was a significant issue for Wuhan.

Deng Zhuoxiang’s First Defeat as Interim Coach

The loss was a bitter one for Deng Zhuoxiang, who had overseen a win and draw in his first two matches in charge. After taking over the role of interim manager, Deng had brought some stability to the team, but the defeat to Shenhua exposed the weaknesses that remain in Wuhan Three Towns’ squad. Despite their strong individual performances from players like Palacios and Zheng Haoqian, the team lacked the cohesion and composure to compete with the league leaders.

For Deng, this defeat was a reality check. The challenge of managing a team struggling near the bottom of the table is a tough one, and his task will now be to regroup his squad and find a way to get them back to winning ways.

Shenhua’s Title Push: A Team in Fine Form

For Shanghai Shenhua, this victory demonstrated their quality and depth. They have now secured 20 points from 8 matches, maintaining their spot at the top of the CSL standings. The team’s defensive solidity, coupled with the creative talents of Xie Pengfei and the attacking prowess of Teixeira and Andre Luiz, make them one of the most balanced teams in the league. Shenhua will be looking to continue their unbeaten streak and maintain their momentum as they push for the CSL title.

As for Wuhan Three Towns, there is still work to be done. The team showed moments of quality but was unable to finish their chances. The disallowed goals, while unfortunate, were not the primary reason for the defeat. Instead, the lack of attacking cohesion and defensive mistakes were the key factors that led to the loss. Deng Zhuoxiang will need to make adjustments if his team is to climb up the league table and avoid relegation threats.

The match, despite its frustrations for Wuhan, was another strong statement from Shenhua, who will continue to be a dominant force in the CSL this season.