Shanghai Port faced Beijing Guoan in the latest round of the Chinese Super League, a match that carried significant weight for the visitors. After a recent slump that threatened to drag them into the relegation zone, Port needed at least a point away from home. Under immense pressure, they showed resilience, battling to a 2-2 draw after 90 intense minutes. Despite missing several key attackers, the result against the CSL powerhouse was widely welcomed by Port fans.
Foreign player Vital emerged as a standout, earning praise for his performance. He calmly converted a crucial penalty in the away match. The situation unfolded when Guoan led 1-0 through a Zhang Yuning goal, but VAR intervened. Referee Ma Ning reviewed an incident where Guoan defender Ramos was deemed to have fouled Li Xinxiang during a challenge, awarding a penalty to Port. The decision surprised many.
As Port’s most technically gifted player, Vital stepped up to take the spot-kick. His penalty was perfectly placed and struck with precision, beating Guoan goalkeeper Hou Sen and leveling the score. Vital’s contribution was instrumental in securing the draw, earning widespread acclaim from fans. It’s remarkable to think that this seemingly lightweight player has become Port’s most used foreign player this season, without exception.
Numerous foreign players at Port have been plagued by injuries this season. Leonardo has been sidelined for some time, while recently signed Claude has proven injury-prone, often missing games after playing just one. Most frustrating for fans was Gabriel suffering a season-ending injury. With Gabriel out, new signing Ampem was expected to step up, but a reckless foul led to a lengthy suspension from the Chinese FA. As a result, Vital has been the club’s most relied-upon foreigner, starting almost every league match with minimal rest.
After the draw with Guoan, Vital admitted to feeling fatigued. Port plans to give him a rest at an appropriate time, but for now, that’s impossible. With only Leonardo and Vital available among the foreign contingent, Port urgently needs both to start in upcoming games to end their winless run and secure a much-needed victory.
