Cangzhou Lions, the club from Cangzhou City, secured crucial points in their relegation battle in the Chinese Super League (CSL) on Saturday night.
The match against Shandong Luneng was a closely contested affair with both teams playing well throughout the game. However, it was Cangzhou Lions who came out on top, thanks to some impressive individual performances and solid team defense.
In the first half, Cangzhou Lions had the better of the play and created several opportunities for themselves. They were eventually rewarded when midfielder Wang Zhiyi scored the opening goal of the match in the 29th minute.
Shandong Luneng responded quickly and equalized just before halftime through forward Li Xinyu. The score remained level at the break, leaving both teams desperate to take the lead.
In the second half, Cangzhou Lions continued to dominate possession and create chances. Their attacking trio of Zhang Zhifeng, Sun Jingyu, and Wang Zhiyi were particularly dangerous, creating numerous scoring opportunities.
Despite their efforts, Shandong Luneng held firm and managed to keep the score level until the final whistle. However, Cangzhou Lions' perseverance paid off as they were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute following a handball by Shandong Luneng defender Zhou Xin.
Zhang Zhifeng stepped up to convert the spot-kick and give his side the all-important lead. Cangzhou Lions then added another goal in the 91st minute through midfielder Chen Yuchen, securing all three points in what was a hard-fought victory.
With this win, Cangzhou Lions moved up to 14th place in the league table, giving them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation. They will now look to continue their strong form and secure more victories in the coming weeks.