Shanghai Port delivered one of the most complete away performances of their Chinese Football Super League campaign, beating Zhejiang Professional FC 4-2 in Hangzhou in a six-goal thriller that swung one way and then decisively the other.

The visitors led twice, were pegged back twice, and then pulled clear in the final half-hour with two clinical finishes that underlined the difference in attacking quality between the two squads. A brace from Wu Lei and late strikes from Matías Vargas and Gustavo settled a match that Zhejiang had briefly threatened to turn into an upset.

Match overview

Played in front of a lively home crowd, the game was billed as a test of Zhejiang's progress against one of the league's established title contenders, and for 70 minutes it lived up to that billing. Zhejiang pressed high, committed numbers forward and found genuine joy down the flanks, but every time they dragged themselves level, Shanghai Port found another gear.

The pattern was set inside the opening quarter of an hour. Wu Lei latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball, held off his marker and finished low across the goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead. Zhejiang's response was impressive rather than panicked, and Leonardo levelled with a sharp near-post finish after a driving run from midfield.

Key moments

• 14' – Wu Lei opens the scoring for Shanghai Port with a composed one-on-one finish.
• 27' – Leonardo equalises for Zhejiang, converting from a tight angle after a slick passing move.
• 43' – Matías Vargas restores the lead, arriving late at the back post to convert a low cross.
• 52' – Franko Kovačević makes it 2-2 with a header from a corner, sending the home support into raptures.
• 68' – Wu Lei's second, a first-time strike from the edge of the area, proves the turning point.
• 84' – Gustavo seals it on the counter, finishing a three-on-two break with the Zhejiang defence stretched.

Tactical story

Zhejiang's game plan was brave and, for long spells, effective. Their midfield pressed aggressively to disrupt Shanghai Port's build-up, and their wide players consistently attacked the space behind the visiting full-backs. The problem was structural: the higher Zhejiang pushed, the more room they left for a side built to punish transitions.

Shanghai Port's midfield trio controlled the tempo after the hour mark, slowing the game when required and then exploding forward with three or four passes. Their third goal was a textbook example — a turnover in the middle third, a quick switch of play, and a finish taken early before the home defence could set.

Zhejiang's substitution decisions reflected the dilemma. Bringing on fresh attacking legs kept the pressure on, but it also removed some of the defensive cover that had kept the scoreline respectable. Once the fourth goal went in, the contest was effectively over.

Standout players

Wu Lei was the obvious headline act, with two goals and an assist-worthy contribution in the build-up to the opener. His movement between the lines repeatedly dragged Zhejiang's centre-backs out of position.

For the home side, Leonardo was the brightest performer, combining hold-up play with genuine pace and testing the visiting goalkeeper more than once. Kovačević's set-piece header was the moment the stadium truly believed an upset was on.

What it means for the table

The three points keep Shanghai Port firmly in the leading group and maintain their reputation as the league's most ruthless away team. For Zhejiang Professional, the defeat is a reminder that the gap to the elite remains measurable, even when the performance is competitive for long stretches. Their home form will be central to any push for continental qualification, and conceding four in front of their own supporters is a statistic the coaching staff will want to correct quickly.

The result also adds another chapter to a fixture that has produced goals in almost every recent meeting — a head-to-head record that now firmly favours Shanghai Port.