Guoan 3-0 Shenhua, rise to 2nd in CSL! 9-game unbeaten streak, 4 consecutive wins, Hou Sen with 8 saves, Shenhua's new coach suffers a losing start.

The CSL Round 18 replay on August 18 saw Beijing Guoan beat Shanghai Shenhua 3-0 away. Ramos opened the scoring with a brace in the first half, and Teixeira squandered an empty net. In the second half, Cao Yongjing scored from Fabio's assist, and Zhang Xizhe sealed the win. Veteran goalkeeper Hou Sen, aged 37, made eight saves.

After this victory, Guoan extended their unbeaten run to 9 matches (7 wins, 2 draws) and achieved 4 consecutive CSL wins. With 23 matches played, they have 35 points, moving up to second place in the standings, 13 points behind leaders Chengdu Rongcheng. Shenhua's two-match winning streak ended, and their new coach lost his debut. They have 25 points from 23 matches, temporarily in 10th place.

Key Moments

In the 42nd minute, Serginho crossed from the left, Ramos's header was saved by Xue Qinghao, but he then scored on the rebound, giving Guoan a 1-0 lead away.

In the 2nd minute of first-half stoppage time, Shenhua missed a golden chance to equalize. Gao Tianyi swept the ball across the goal, Teixeira's sliding shot at an empty net was blocked by Hou Sen, and then Asue's long-range effort was also tipped over the bar by Hou Sen.

In the 73rd minute, Guoan launched a quick counterattack. Fabio assisted Cao Yongjing, who scored a one-on-one, making it 2-0. Cao Yongjing scored in consecutive CSL matches.

In the 86th minute, Zhang Yuning selflessly assisted substitute Zhang Xizhe, who scored to seal the 3-0 victory for Guoan.

Match Highlights

1st minute: Serginho took a corner, Ramos headed it on, and Yang Liyu's header at the goal went over.

4th minute: Li Songyi handled the ball in the box, but after VAR review, no penalty was awarded.

12th minute: Asue laid the ball off, Chen Jinyi followed up with a powerful shot that was saved by Hou Sen.

14th minute: Wu Xi raised his foot too high and kicked Fabio, receiving a yellow card.

17th minute: The ball hit Ramos's arm and went out of play, and the referee awarded a goal kick.

34th minute: Latang unleashed a surprise shot from distance, and Hou Sen dived to make the save.

After the break, in the 62nd minute, Chen Jinyi dribbled past two defenders and went down, but the referee indicated no penalty.

63rd minute: Asue's header was saved by Hou Sen.

76th minute: Zhang Yuning's sliding shot was blocked by Xue Qinghao, and then Fabio's shot went wide.

77th minute: Chen Jinyi's threatening long-range shot was again saved by Hou Sen.

Player Ratings

Statistics

Lineups

Shanghai Shenhua starting lineup (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: 1-Xue Qinghao

Defenders: 13-Manafa (F), 5-Zhu Chenjie, 6-Li Songyi, 27-Chen Jinyi (81' 16-Yang Zexiang)

Defensive midfielders: 15-Wu Xi, 33-Wang Haijian (64' 11-Shaolo Mineiro (F))

Midfielders: 17-Gao Tianyi (81' 21-Xu Haoyang), 10-Teixeira (F) (88' 38-Wu Qipeng), 19-Asue (81' 30-Xie Pengfei)

Forward: 9-Latang (F)

Substitutes not used: 24-Ma Zhen, 39-Sun Dongyang, 2-Wang Shilong, 25-Zhu Yue, 26-Yang Shuai, 36-Huang Ming, 45-Han Jiawen

Beijing Guoan starting lineup (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: 34-Hou Sen

Defenders: 21-Ru Zinan (62' 27-Wang Gang), 5-Ramos (F), 24-Abuduheimiti, 26-Bai Yang (76' 4-Li Lei)

Midfielders: 17-Yang Liyu (62' 10-Zhang Xizhe), 23-Dawan (F), 7-Serginho, 37-Cao Yongjing (81' 36-Jia Feifan)

Forwards: 9-Zhang Yuning, 29-Fabio (F)

Substitutes not used: 31-Liu Shaoziyang, 30-Fan Shuangjie, 47-Deng Jiefu, 18-Wang Yu, 41-Cheng Xi, 50-Zhang Haoran, 43-Xia Xiaoyu, 58-Jiang Zicheng

Referee: Gan Shuran (Guangzhou) VAR: Zhang Lei (Tianjin)