With Chengdu's 4-1 victory over Haigang and Yunnan's 1-1 draw with Yatai, the CSL standings are in chaos, and the top spot has changed hands.

On August 31st Beijing time, the 23rd round of the CSL started. In the two just finished matches, the highlight was Chengdu’s powerful 4-1 triumph over Haigang, and Yunnan’s 1-1 draw with Yatai. Consequently, the top of the standings changed once more, with Chengdu seizing first place and receiving a trial card, Haigang ranking fourth, Yunnan eighth, and Yatai still at the bottom!

Chengdu versus Haigang. Both teams are in the top four, separated by only one point from the top, making this a crucial title clash. The winner would gain the upper hand. Right from the start, the match turned into an attacking battle. Chengdu opened the scoring first, with Gurfinkel netting the opener. Chengdu then surged forward; although Romulo’s goal was disallowed, Gurfinkel provided an assist and won a penalty, allowing Felipe to score twice within 10 minutes, pushing Chengdu 3-0 ahead and stunning Haigang. However, Haigang quickly countered; Melendo’s powerful long pass found Li Shuai, who reacted swiftly to score and pull one back. In the second half, Chengdu kept pressing and scored again from a corner. After a set piece delivery, Leichet headed the ball into the net, sealing the game. The match ended 4-1 in Chengdu’s favor, turning a high-stakes duel into a one-sided affair. This victory ended Haigang’s 13-match unbeaten streak and handed Chengdu the top spot trial card — a tough feat. It seems Chengdu isn’t afraid of strong teams this year but tends to drop points against weaker sides; otherwise, they could have led the table earlier!

Yunnan versus Yatai. Newly promoted Yunnan faced relegation-threatened Yatai. Although Yunnan is a newcomer, they have played well and sit comfortably above the relegation zone. In this round, they met bottom-ranked Yatai, who are under heavy pressure to avoid relegation. Playing away, Yatai took the initiative and scored first in the 35th minute. Zhang Huachen’s direct free kick curved beautifully into the net, giving Yatai the unexpected lead. After that, Yunnan launched intense attacks and pressed Yatai continuously but couldn’t find the breakthrough. In the final moments, Yunnan earned a controversial penalty, which Oscar converted, turning Yatai’s three points into one — a very unfortunate outcome!

Currently, in the latest standings, Chengdu, having played one more match, edges out Shenhua to claim first place by just one point, making the title race extremely unpredictable. The gap among the top four is only one point, making the competition fierce. This year’s CSL title race is unprecedentedly intense and highly competitive, with every round potentially shifting the championship dynamics. Meanwhile, the relegation battle is equally thrilling, with the bottom four teams separated by just one point, keeping fans on edge. Let’s wait and see how it unfolds!

Written by / Sports Novel