Shanghai Shenhua secured a vital 3-1 away victory over Wuhan Three Towns in the Chinese Super League on Sunday, October 18th. L. Asue opened the scoring after just two minutes to set the tone for the match. This result improves their recent form to one win, two draws, and two losses from their last five outings.
Match Flow
The game started at a blistering pace for the visitors. In the 2nd minute, Asue found space inside the box and finished calmly to give Shenhua an early 1-0 lead, which they held until halftime.
Wuhan Three Towns equalized in the 62nd minute through Jhonder Cádiz, assisted by A. Leautey. However, Shenhua's response was swift. Just five minutes later, Rafael Ratão stepped up to convert a penalty, restoring his side's lead at 2-1. The goal was Ratão's 19th in 28 appearances this season.
Shenhua sealed the three points deep into stoppage time.
Stats and Lineup
Shenhua edged possession with 53% and registered 15 shots, five of which were on target. Goalkeeper Qinghao Xue was called into action frequently, making seven saves. The defensive effort came at a cost, with the team committing 15 fouls. Asue and Zhu Chenjie were both booked in the first half.
The manager made several changes as the game progressed. Xu Haoyang and Chan Shinichi came on in the 67th minute, followed by Wang Haijian and Jiang Shenglong later. Han Jiawen's late introduction for goalscorer Asue proved decisive.
The win provides a welcome boost after a run of two games without a victory. Looking at their recent results, Shenhua drew 0-0 away to Svay Rieng on October 15th and thrashed Yunnan Yukun 7-1 on October 10th. Shenhua's form over their last five matches now reads one win, two draws, and two losses. Attention now turns to the next fixture, an away trip to face Sichuan Jiuniu on Saturday, October 24th.
