Henan Secures First Victory at Harbor's Home Ground! Unleashing Full Firepower in the First Half and Demonstrating Resilience in the Second

Reported by journalist Lu Mi In a key match of the Chinese Super League's opening round, Henan Club Caitaofang Team traveled to Shanghai under the pressure of starting with -6 points to face the defending champion Shanghai Harbor. With goals from Zhong Yihao and Medina, Henan created the first major upset of this CSL season, defeating Shanghai Harbor 2-1 and achieving their first-ever victory at Harbor's home stadium. The momentum of overthrowing the defending champion in the first round also showcased Henan's resilience and strength to the outside world.

Right from the start of the match, Henan displayed a determined attacking posture, tearing through Harbor's defense with a swift strike. Within just 27 seconds, Henan's first offensive move resulted in a goal, setting the record for Henan's fastest goal in CSL history—Zhong Yihao scored Henan's first goal of the new season with a follow-up shot, giving the team a dream start. This lightning-fast goal not only perfectly reflected Henan's pre-match tactical planning but also caught Harbor's defense off guard, setting the tone for the tactical execution throughout the game.

After securing the lead, Henan did not immediately retreat into defense but continued to maintain high pressure in the frontfield, steadfastly adhering to their tactical rhythm. Although they did not dominate in statistics such as possession rate, number of shots, or dangerous attacks throughout the match, their tactical execution ability and Henan's characteristic resilience of overcoming challenges persisted throughout. Despite boasting a star-studded lineup, the defending champion Harbor struggled to organize effective attacks under Henan's intense pressing, frequently making errors in midfield transitions, and their forwards faced significantly compressed space when receiving the ball. Henan's dual foreign center-back combination, Medina and Maya, stood like an iron wall, repeatedly thwarting Harbor's flank breakthroughs and central penetrations. In the 16th minute, from a left-side corner opportunity, Medina flicked the ball with his back at the front post to score, helping the team secure their second goal.

Another highlight of the match was the dramatic scene where Henan hit the goalposts four times: at 26 seconds into the game, Gustavo's sliding shot inside the box hit the crossbar, followed immediately by Zhong Yihao's follow-up shot scoring—this frame hit served as the prelude to the lightning goal; at the 43rd minute, after Nasario distributed the ball, Mbulu's unmarked shot struck the crossbar and bounced out; at the 44th minute, Mbulu's backheel pass set up Nasario, whose low shot inside the box hit the far post; at the 64th minute, Henan's 45-degree cross found Lucas Maya, whose header from the back post crashed against the crossbar. Even though luck was slightly lacking, Henan's offensive firepower kept Harbor's defense scrambling, with 10 shots throughout the match posing effective threats, showing significantly more vitality in attack compared to last season's start.

Despite starting with -6 points, compared to previous years, after Ramos completed a full winter training session leading the team, the players were more daring in their movements and forward passes on the field, creating more opportunities in the frontfield. Whether through flank breakthroughs or central strong attacks, they achieved the effects Ramos desired. Shanghai Harbor also faced an unfavorable situation starting with -5 points, but in this match, they were subjected to Henan's targeted restrictions. Even after falling 0-2, when Harbor adopted a siege posture against Henan, Henan's defense remained focused under high pressure, minimizing errors. Through tenacious defense, Henan maintained the 2-1 score until the end, solidly securing their first victory of the new season. The last time such a performance was seen was in the 2016 season. Interestingly, the opponent for that opening victory was also Shanghai Harbor.

After the match, Ramos expressed great excitement: "We delivered a brilliant start in the first half. The team's performance last year was already outstanding, and this year we continue the strong momentum from last year. That's precisely why we managed to score two goals first at the defending champion's home ground in the league's first round—such a start is perfect. I believe that with this victory, the team's journey this year will be very smooth." This win allowed Henan to break free from their previous points predicament, reducing the negative points to -3, taking a crucial step on the path to catching up, and substantially improving the team's situation on the points table.