1-4! 0-4! A Dark 24 Hours for Chinese Football – Shanghai’s Giants Humiliated and Eliminated from the AFC Champions League

It was a nightmare for Chinese football fans. In the span of just 24 hours, two of the Chinese Super League’s (CSL) biggest powerhouses, Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua, were ruthlessly knocked out of the AFC Champions League (ACL), suffering humiliating defeats at the hands of Japanese opposition.

• Shanghai Port fell 1-4 to Yokohama F. Marinos (1-5 on aggregate).
• Shanghai Shenhua crumbled 0-4 against Kawasaki Frontale (1-5 on aggregate).

What started as a promising campaign for Shanghai’s two football giants ended in shocking collapse, leaving the CSL without a single representative in the quarterfinals.

Shanghai Shenhua’s Collapse – From Victory to Disaster

Heading into the second leg against Kawasaki Frontale, Shanghai Shenhua held a slender 1-0 lead from their home leg. That victory marked their second consecutive win over the J-League club, sparking hope that they could advance to the quarterfinals.

However, in the return leg in Japan, the Shenhua faithful witnessed a complete meltdown.

A Weakened Squad, A Tactical Struggle

Missing key players André Luís, Amadou, and Zhu Chenjie, head coach Wu Jingui had no choice but to make adjustments.

• Mineiro was deployed as a lone striker, supported by Teixeira and Xu Haoyang in attacking midfield.
• Shenhua adopted a defensive approach, aiming to frustrate Kawasaki and protect their narrow aggregate lead.
• Without Amadou’s presence in midfield, Shenhua’s defensive stability crumbled.

From the opening whistle, it became clear that Shenhua were not ready for the intensity of the match.

First Half – Kawasaki Dominates

• 24th Minute – Defensive Gaps Exposed
  Sasaki Asahi found space on Shenhua’s vulnerable left flank, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Bao Yaxiong.

  1-0 to Kawasaki, aggregate tied at 1-1.

  From that moment, Shenhua never recovered.

• Shenhua’s Struggles in Attack
  Apart from Teixeira’s individual dribbles, Shenhua offered little going forward. They managed only four shots in the first half, none on target, and their possession dropped to a dismal 35%.

• Bao Yaxiong’s Misfortune
  The Shenhua goalkeeper made three saves, but his failure to command his defense played a crucial role in the early goal concession.

Second Half – Total Destruction

With Kawasaki pushing forward relentlessly, Shenhua’s resistance collapsed completely.

• 64th Minute – Defense Torn Apart
  Kawasaki’s fluid passing movement sliced through Shenhua’s midfield, exposing their lack of defensive cover.
  Sasaki delivered a perfect cross from the right, and Erik ghosted into the box to tap home.

  0-2, aggregate 1-2.

• 68th Minute – Tactical Breakdown
  Shenhua’s backline was in shambles as Marcinho danced past Jiang Shenglong’s desperate challenge and squared the ball to Itō Tatsuya, who calmly slotted home.

  0-3, aggregate 1-3.

• 94th Minute – The Final Nail in the Coffin
  A high press forced a Shenhua turnover, and Kawasaki seized the opportunity. Marcinho showcased his skills, turning inside the box before applying the finishing touch.

  0-4, aggregate 1-5. Game over.

A crushing defeat for Shenhua, who saw their first-leg advantage completely erased in the most humiliating manner.

Shanghai Port’s Humiliation – Destroyed by Yokohama F. Marinos

Just 24 hours earlier, CSL champions Shanghai Port also endured a brutal elimination at the hands of a Japanese opponent.

Facing Yokohama F. Marinos, Port were expected to show resilience and mount a comeback. Instead, they were torn apart, losing 1-4 on the night and 1-5 on aggregate.

A Nightmare 24 Hours for Chinese Football

This was more than just two defeats—it was a collective failure of Chinese club football on the continental stage.

• China’s two biggest clubs crumbled against J-League opposition.
• Both teams lost by identical aggregate scores—1-5.
• Defensive frailties, lack of tactical adaptability, and squad depth were brutally exposed.

While Japanese clubs continue to progress, this double disaster highlighted the stagnation of Chinese football at the international level.

At full-time, as Kawasaki and Yokohama fans celebrated, Shanghai’s stars walked off in silence, heads bowed, knowing they had let their supporters down.

A night to forget—but a wake-up call that Chinese football cannot afford to ignore.