Li Yuanyi and Alvaro suspended? We have equally capable players in the same positions within the team, and the squad depth gives us strength and advantage. — Su Maozhen
Taishan won 2-1 away against Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, moving to fifth place in the standings. Shenzhen dropped to ninth. For Taishan, fifth is a familiar position — they have been hovering there for the past two seasons, neither quite reaching the top nor falling too far behind. Every opponent treats them as a strong side, and they should be one, but they occasionally suffer from “nervous spells.” The victory over Xinpengcheng was not a fluke; it was a normal performance. 
What makes it “normal” is that Cresan played at his usual level. It is no secret that the Chinese Super League relies on foreign stars, and when a powerful figure like Cresan stays focused on the game, keeps his emotions in check, and avoids fighting himself, he can secure a win. After the match, Shenzhen coach Chen Tao admitted that there is a gap between his team and a strong side like Taishan, but expressed satisfaction with his players’ fighting spirit. That’s fair — survival is the goal for Shenzhen. 
An unpleasant incident occurred after the final whistle. Shenzhen veteran Jiang Zhipeng got into a verbal altercation with some home fans. Some supporters in the designated cheering section were unhappy with the team’s performance, and Jiang lost his temper, confronting them. Head coach Chen Tao had to step in to calm him down. Many fans are now asking whether the club will discipline Jiang, who is the team captain. Some argue that a captain should respect the fans, who pay for tickets and have a right to express dissatisfaction. They compare it to European leagues where players rarely talk back to angry fans. Others believe it was a mutual lack of respect — Jiang gave his all on the pitch, and losing hurts everyone. Without him, the team would likely be even worse.
Shenzhen Xinpengcheng faces a tough next match. On May 15 at 19:35, they will visit Henan, a team that just suffered a 0-3 away loss to Chengdu Rongcheng. However, Chengdu is the league leader with a powerful attack, and Henan is also in poor form. Back at their home stadium, Hanghai, Henan will fight hard for a crucial six-pointer. Chen Tao will face off against Ramos on the sidelines.
Despite their win over Xinpengcheng, Taishan will be without Li Yuanyi and Alvaro in their next home game against Chongqing Tonglianglong, as both have accumulated four yellow cards and are suspended. Tonglianglong, a newly promoted side, sits second in the table and is a tough opponent. Li Yuanyi’s absence is manageable — the midfield still has options like Madruga, Huang Zhengyu, Chen Zeshi, Yimulan, and Duan Xueba. However, Alvaro’s suspension is a bigger blow, especially with Han Peng’s preferred three-center-back formation.
