Rodrigo Henrique (R) of Meizhou Hakka competes during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match against Shenzhen FC in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
MEIZHOU, China, June 13 (Xinhua) -- New signing Marko Dabro scored in the 86th minute to help Beijing Guoan beat Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 1-0, while a stoppage-time goal by Nebojsa Kosovic saw Meizhou Hakka edge Shenzhen FC 2-1 in the 2022 Chinese Super League (CSL) on Monday.
Both Beijing and Tianjin sides failed to create clear opportunities for most of the match. With four minutes to go, Croatian forward Dabro, a new signing from NK Lokomotiva, found the net after collecting a cross from Zhang Yuning.
In the CSL's other game on Monday, Meizhou broke the deadlock in 40th minute when Yang Yilin scored with a wonderful strike from the corner of the penalty area. However, in the 48th minute, Shenzhen leveled the score with Romain Alessandrini's equalizer.
When it appeared as if the match was heading for a draw, Kosovic scored the winner in the 91st minute to secure the win for Meizhou.
"I think both teams played well in today's game. We still have a lot to learn regardless of the victory," said 23-year-old Yang.
This is the first CSL win for newly-promoted Meizhou, who now sits 10th in the 18-team league. Shenzhen, with two wins from the first two games, sits fifth, ahead of Beijing with a superior goal difference. ■
Aleksa Vukanovic (L) of Meizhou Hakka competes during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match against Shenzhen FC in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
Pei Shuai (L) of Shenzhen FC vies for a header during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match between Shenzhen FC and Meizhou Hakka in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Rade Dugalic (C) of Meizhou Hakka vies for the ball during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match between Shenzhen FC and Meizhou Hakka in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Rade Dugalic of Meizhou Hakka reacts during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match between Shenzhen FC and Meizhou Hakka in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Rodrigo Henrique (L) of Meizhou Hakka vies with Romain Alessandrini of Shenzhen FC during their 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
Rade Dugalic (top) of Meizhou Hakka vies for a header during a 2022 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) match against Shenzhen FC in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
