Shanghai Shenhua leads the Super League by 6 points! Slutsky refuses to celebrate

Special Correspondent / Gan Hui Just four days later, Shanghai Shenhua faced Henan in the 18th round of the league once again. This time, Shenhua did not let the disappointment from four days ago repeat itself, winning 3-2 against Henan, avenging their elimination from the FA Cup, and extending their lead in the league standings to 6 points.

The defeat in the FA Cup was partly due to Henan's outstanding performance, but also stemmed from Shenhua's insufficient control over Henan's attacking foreign trio. All three of Henan's goals came from this trio, especially with Cardoso scoring twice, posing a significant threat to Shenhua's defense.

Learning from their mistakes, Shenhua strengthened their defense against these three players in the rematch, limiting their space to operate. Consequently, the threat to Shenhua's goal diminished significantly, with Henan's total shots on target dropping from 7 in the FA Cup to just 4 in this match.

On the attacking front, compared to 35 shots with 7 on target in the FA Cup, Shenhua improved their attacking efficiency in this match, achieving 19 shots with 9 on target.

With Gao Tianyi returning from injury, Shenhua's set pieces regained their effectiveness. The first goal came from a corner tactic. In the 16th minute, Gao Tianyi took the corner, and Henan's goalkeeper Wang Guoming made a mistake while coming out, allowing Jiang Shenglong, who was lurking at the back post, to leap high and head the ball into the net, giving Shenhua a 1-0 lead.

After Shenhua took the lead, a highly controversial decision occurred in the match: in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Manafa was penalized for a foul on Achiempong. Referee Liang Songshang initially awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, and Henan players did not contest this, even as Shenhua set up a three-man wall, with Wang Shangyuan and Nasario ready to take the free kick. However, at this moment, the video assistant referee team led by Ai Kun intervened, and without the referee reviewing the video at the sidelines, he changed the decision to a penalty kick. From the slow-motion replay provided by the broadcast, Achiempong was facing away from the goal and did not pose a direct threat, making the decision to award a penalty seem insufficiently justified—VAR intervention requires a "clear and obvious error" in the original decision.

Subsequently, Nasario converted the penalty, leveling the score for Henan. Despite the change in decision and conceding the equalizer, Shenhua showed resilience and quickly regained the lead. In the stoppage time of the first half, Teixeira capitalized on an opponent's mistake, scoring with a powerful shot from near the penalty area, making the score 2-1.

Shenhua's other goal came from new foreign player Asuai. In the 56th minute, Wu Xi delivered a long pass from midfield behind the opponent's defense, and Asuai made a quick run, entering the penalty area and scoring with a low shot, extending the lead to 3-1. Since joining Shenhua in the summer transfer window, Asuai has scored in every match he has played, showcasing impressive strength. Moreover, based on his performance in this match, Asuai's form has been steadily improving after this period of training and competition.

In the following match, Henan pulled one back, but Shenhua's defense was tenacious, ultimately winning 3-2. After the match, Slutsky expressed gratitude for his players' strong performance, stating, "Today's match was quite challenging, and it was evident that the previous FA Cup match had taken a toll on both teams. However, in this match, our players withstood the pressure and displayed the quality expected of them. I am very pleased with their performance today. I sincerely thank them for securing three points at such a crucial moment."

With these three points, Shenhua's league total increased to 44 points, maintaining a 6-point lead over second-placed Haigang. In response, Slutsky calmly analyzed, "A few days ago, our opponent Beijing Guoan had not lost a single match this season, but then they suffered two consecutive losses, and the situation changed drastically. Therefore, I believe a 6-point gap does not signify anything definitive. There are still 12 rounds left in the league, and I believe each match will be very tough and evenly matched. In the upcoming matches, our own form and player injuries may impact the team's trajectory, so I think it's not yet time to celebrate this lead."

In the first half of this match, key center-back Zhu Chenjie was substituted due to injury. As one of the most critical players in Shenhua's defense, his absence could affect the stability of the team's defensive line. After the match, Slutsky mentioned in the press conference, "Zhu Chenjie is indeed a very important member of our team. He indicated on the field that he felt some discomfort in his adductor muscle, and the specific situation will be further assessed with tomorrow's medical report."

Looking ahead, the league will enter the August battle, with Shenhua's schedule consisting of 1 home game and 4 away games. On August 2, Shenhua will first head to Yuxi, Yunnan, to face newly promoted Yunnan Yukun, and then return home for the fourth "Shanghai Derby" of the season against Haigang. Following that, Shenhua will face a stretch of three consecutive away games—against Zhejiang, Qingdao Hainiu, and Wuhan Three Towns. As Slutsky said, "Currently, this lead is not yet a reason to celebrate."