Shenzhen FC secured their first victory of the season and lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a hard-fought victory over Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League (CSL) relegation battle on Saturday.
The match was a closely contested affair that saw both teams put in a strong performance. However, it was Shenzhen who emerged victorious thanks to a goal from substitute forward Zhang Yizhou in the 77th minute.
The result meant that Shenzhen now sits just one point above the relegation zone, while Guangzhou Evergrande dropped two points as they failed to secure a win against their rivals.
Shenzhen's manager, Guan Dongnan, praised his team's performance, saying: "We worked very hard today and we're happy to get this result. We know that there is still a lot of work to do, but at least we've taken another step towards securing our place in the league."
For Guangzhou Evergrande, the defeat was a setback as they looked to bounce back from a poor start to the season. Manager Sun Xinghui said: "It's disappointing to lose again, especially given how well we played earlier in the game. But I'm proud of my players for sticking together and fighting until the end."
Overall, the CSL relegation battle remains highly competitive, with all teams desperate to avoid the drop. With just six games left in the season, every point will be crucial for survival.