A 2-0 payback! Zhejiang overtakes Jinmen Tiger in the standings, playing the role of “judge” in both the title race and relegation battle.

Written by Zuo Rui. On the evening of the 20th, Zhejiang Greentown secured a 2-0 victory over Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, with two goals from different attacking pairs just before each half’s conclusion, helping them move past the disappointment of their previous 0-2 away defeat in Tianjin.

This 23rd round Super League match, rescheduled due to the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, saw the seventh and sixth-placed teams face off. Both teams were closely matched, but Zhejiang Greentown, with home advantage and new signings, was clearly more determined. Head coach Caneda commented before the game that, after a loss and a draw against strong teams Guoan and Shenhua at home, the team hadn’t gained the points they’d hoped for in those intense matches and had little time to recover. However, Jinmen Tiger faced similar challenges. “They have many excellent players, and we are fully prepared to meet them,” he said.

The return of key midfielder Cheng Jin this round was a boost for the home side. Previously sidelined by injury for nearly three months, he played 26 minutes away at Shenzhen in round 19 and came on as a substitute against Guoan in round 20, only to be sent off 15 minutes later. With his replacements, Bao Shengxin and Qian Jiegei, both recovering from injuries, Cheng Jin’s vision, passing, link-up play, and ability to switch between attack and defense, as well as his post-recovery condition, drew attention for this match against Jinmen Tiger. Before the game, he stated publicly that despite a packed schedule and hot weather, the team was fully prepared for this home match.

Caneda believes each match is unique, and substitutions should be made based on the flow and specifics of the game. Both starters and substitutes are highly capable and “ready to give their all at any moment.” For this match, the starting lineup saw Cheng Jin return as expected, partnering with Li Tixiang to reform the midfield duo, Wang Shiqin back as starting left wing-back, and a forward trio of Mitrita, Yago, and Wang Yudong—an attacking line Tianjin hadn’t encountered in their previous home victory.

In the 14th minute of the first half, the visitors struck the post with a shot. In the 20th minute, new fan favorite Mitrita at Huanglong Stadium beat two defenders but sent his shot wide. In the 32nd minute, Yago’s close-range effort was cleared off the line, and a follow-up attack missed the opportunity to shoot, squandering a chance to take the lead. However, in the 44th minute, Mitrita delivered a corner, the opposing goalkeeper made a mistake coming out, and Yago headed in at the far post for an easy goal. Zhejiang led 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Mitrita remained Zhejiang’s main attacking threat, repeatedly launching attacks down the left, though the final pass often lacked precision. In the 66th minute, Caneda substituted Zhang Jiaqi for striker Yago, switching to a 5-3-2 formation to bolster midfield strength. Although Zhejiang had a slight edge in possession and scoring chances, a single-goal lead was far from secure.

In the 80th minute, Frank and Owusu replaced Wang Yudong and Cheng Jin, as Zhejiang reconfigured to a three-forward setup, aiming to maintain energy and look for opportunities to extend their lead. Caneda’s substitutions paid off: in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Owusu crossed from the right and Frank volleyed home in the center of the box, sealing a spectacular 2-0 win. This goal brought both Owusu’s assists and Frank’s goals to eight for the season.

After the match, Cheng Jin noted that the team performed well on both offense and defense, controlled more of the ball, and ultimately converted their on-field advantage into a two-goal victory. With both teams now level on 33 points, the result swapped their positions in the standings, with Zhejiang climbing to sixth and Tianjin dropping to seventh. In the remaining eight rounds, Zhejiang will face Rongcheng, Haigang, Meizhou, Yatai, and Hainiu, continuing to play a decisive role at both ends of the Super League table.