The Chinese Super League standings underwent a dramatic reshuffle overnight: Yunnan rose to second place with a 4-0 win over Taishan, Chengdu drew 3-3 with Chongqing in a last-gasp equalizer, and Beijing and Shanghai ended 1-1.

On March 22 Beijing time, the third round of the Chinese Super League concluded last night. In several closely watched matches, the Beijing-Shanghai clash saw Beijing Guoan and Shenhua draw 1-1; the newly-promoted Liaoning team swept the bottom-placed Tianjin 3-0 with unstoppable momentum; Henan drew 1-1 with Sanzhen; the newly-promoted Chongqing drew 3-3 with the league leader Chengdu; Qingdao West Coast secured a 1-0 victory over Shenzhen; and Yunnan unleashed full firepower to crush Shandong Taishan 4-0. Consequently, the standings were thrown into chaos: Chengdu remains unbeaten after three rounds and tops the table, Yunnan surged to second place, Chongqing is third with three unbeaten matches, Shandong Taishan sits tenth, while Guoan and Shanghai Port are still in negative points at the bottom!

Beijing Guoan versus Shanghai Shenhua. This Beijing-Shanghai clash attracted significant attention, expected to be a fiery encounter, but both teams played poorly, unable to produce any brilliant coordination. In the first half, Zhang Yuning was very active and scored for Beijing Guoan to take the lead. In the second half, Shenhua seized opportunities attempting to score; fortunately, Chen Jinyi delivered a stunning free-kick, a curved "moon blade" that directly found the net to equalize. Subsequently, neither side managed another goal, and the match ended 1-1, with each team taking one point.

Chongqing versus Chengdu. This marked the return of the Sichuan-Chongqing derby in the CSL after 17 years, also a top-of-the-table battle, drawing intense focus. The two teams delivered an thrilling offensive showdown, with the match process full of twists and turns and excitement. In the first half, Chengdu's shooting efficiency was high, converting two goals from three shots on target, with Wei Shihao scoring from a penalty and Silva finding the net, helping Chengdu lead Chongqing 2-0. In the second half, neither side scored for a long period. In the 66th minute, Chengdu substituted the hot-form Silva, and Chongqing began to gain momentum, repeatedly breaking through Chengdu's right flank and scoring consecutively with high efficiency. Within just 12 minutes, they staged a remarkable comeback, scoring three goals to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead, with Kempanu's goal igniting the counterattack and Dimata scoring twice to overtake. However, during stoppage time, substitute Baihelamu, called upon in a critical moment, scored a last-gasp equalizer. Ultimately, Chengdu drew 3-3 with Chongqing, avoiding a upset and maintaining their unbeaten streak after three rounds to stay atop the standings.

Yunnan versus Taishan. In this match against the powerhouse Shandong Taishan, who had started with two consecutive wins and quickly cleared their points, Yunnan prepared thoroughly, aggressively pressing from the outset. In the second minute, Caio swiftly scored to break the balance. Subsequently, they tactically suppressed Taishan and capitalized on momentum, with Oscar scoring twice within four minutes. By halftime, Yunnan led 3-0, stunning Taishan. After the break, Shandong Taishan's mentality deteriorated, their forwards collectively silenced, compounded by Xie Weneng receiving a red card, leaving Taishan with fewer players and worsening their situation. The match lost suspense, and in the final moments, Ionica scored to add icing on the cake. Ultimately, Yunnan crushed Shandong Taishan 4-0, securing a surprising victory that was truly unexpected.

By Sports Story