Match Report
28 points for Zhejiang (10th), 37 for Shandong Taishan (5th): a 9-point gap. Zhejiang had been over-performing their table position on recent form: 6th in the league over the last five rounds against 10th overall. Scoring rates set the scale: Zhejiang 1.67 scored and 1.67 conceded per game, Shandong Taishan 1.77 and 1.65, with the league averaging 1.55.
Three consecutive wins preceded this game for Shandong Taishan, having scored in 9 consecutive games.
GioScore's database holds 9 meetings between the two: 1 for Zhejiang, 6 for Shandong Taishan and 2 drawn, at 3.67 goals per meeting. The pattern favours whoever hosts: home teams have won 78% of the meetings. 78% of the meetings finished with three goals or more, and both sides scored in 67%.
The match was played at Xuzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium (capacity 51,000). On the scoreboard, Shandong Taishan led 1-0 at the break; 4 second-half goals set the final 4-1.
Goal scorers
Zhejiang: Marko Tolic (73'), Cheng Jin (60'), Di Gao (64'), Qianglong Tao (90') · Shandong Taishan: Raphaël Merkies (1')
Key stats
Possession: Zhejiang 54% · Shandong Taishan 46% · Total shots: 23-9 · On target: 9-2 · Corners: 5-4