Shanghai Shenhua Drops Out of Top Spot One Match Before CSL Title Race Concludes
Slutsky's Side Was on the Verge of a Sensational Victory
Shanghai Shenhua football club, led by manager Leonid Slutsky, was just one win away from the Chinese Super League (CSL) title. However, a frustrating 1-1 draw against Cangzhou Mighty Lions has left the team in second place with only one match remaining in the season.The match began with Shenhua looking sharp. They dominated possession and created several chances, but they could not find the back of the net. Cangzhou, meanwhile, sat back and defended deep, hoping to catch Shenhua on the counterattack.
Cangzhou's plan worked in the second half when they took a shock lead through a free kick from Oscar Maritu. Shenhua responded well and managed to equalize through a penalty kick from Christian Bassogog.
Shenhua's Title Hopes Now Hang in the Balance
The draw means Shenhua must now beat Beijing Guoan in their final match and hope Shandong Taishan fail to win against Guangzhou FC. Shenhua's task is made even more difficult by the fact that they will be without several key players through injury.
Slutsky was understandably disappointed after the match. He said, "We are very disappointed with the result. We did not play well enough in the first half, and we were punished for it. We improved in the second half, but we could not find the winning goal."
Shenhua's failure to win the CSL title will be a major disappointment for Slutsky, who has overseen a significant improvement in the team's performance since his arrival in 2020.
However, the club can still qualify for the AFC Champions League if they can finish in the top three. They will need to beat Beijing Guoan and hope that Wuhan Three Towns fail to beat Dalian Professional.
