On August 22nd, in the 24th round of the 2026 Chinese Super League season, Shanghai Shenhua secured a thrilling 5-4 away victory over league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng. The goal-fest handed new manager Milojevic his first win in charge and put a temporary brake on the hosts' title charge.
Chengdu Rongcheng entered the match top of the table with 48 points, holding a 13-point lead over second-placed Beijing Guoan. Needing just 9 more points to clinch the title, they were heavy favourites at home against a Shenhua side that had just changed managers and lost 3-0 in his debut. The script, however, was flipped.
He Yiran gave Chengdu the dream start, scoring after just 2 minutes. Shenhua, though, fought back resiliently. The visitors produced a blistering spell early in the second half, netting twice in three minutes to turn the game on its head. While Chengdu's Silva ended his personal goal drought, Shenhua's attack proved more potent, stretching their lead to 5-2 at one stage.
In a dramatic finale, Chengdu's foreign striker Felipe converted two late penalties to pull the score back to 4-5, offering a glimmer of hope. The seven minutes of added time were not enough for an equaliser, as Chengdu suffered their heaviest defeat of the season for goals conceded. The result means their path to the title, with six games remaining, has become slightly more complicated.
Milojevic's maiden victory
The win was a key one for Shenhua boss Milojevic. He had acknowledged the challenge pre-match, stating, "Facing the league leaders is definitely a very difficult game," while expressing belief his team would improve. The team delivered with a high-scoring away win, halting the losing streak that began with his appointment and providing a significant morale boost.
The team's upcoming schedule and league position can be checked on our fixtures and standings pages. This vital victory helps solidify Shenhua's mid-table standing as they prepare for their next league fixture after a brief period of recovery.
