On May 16 at 19:35, the 12th round of the Chinese Super League will see Shandong Taishan host Chongqing Tonglianglong at home. For this match, Taishan will be without foreign player Álvaro and midfielder Li Yuanyi due to suspension, forcing head coach Han Peng to adjust the lineup based on the team’s actual situation. This season, Chongqing Tonglianglong has emerged as the biggest dark horse. Making their CSL debut, they have shown strong competitiveness, earning 20 points from the first 11 rounds and sitting in second place. Taishan must prepare for a tough challenge.
Chongqing Tonglianglong, a promoted side, is coached by former international Liu Jianye. They have lost only once in the opening 11 matches, boasting a record of 5 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss. Their disciplined tactics and resilience have been key to their success. The squad features many young talents around 20 years old, who run tirelessly and execute Liu Jianye’s plans effectively. Notably, Chongqing Tonglianglong has caused opponents to receive four red cards in the first 11 rounds – a statistic that should alert Taishan.
In the second round, Chongqing beat Liaoning Tieren 1-0. During the 55th minute, Kennepalu was fouled by Wajic on a counterattack, and referee Ma Ning showed a red card – the first red card they induced. This came from a sharp counterattack, with Kennepalu being a potent weapon. In the fourth round, Chongqing won 1-0 away against Zhejiang. In that game, Li Zhenquan defended tightly against Miterry, using verbal provocation. Miterry lost his cool, retaliated against Li, was sent off, and later received a supplementary suspension. Li Zhenquan was also punished for his words.
In the sixth round, Chongqing defeated Shenzhen 2-0. In the 42nd minute, Benkovic fouled Kennepalu after a mistake, earning a red card – Kennepalu’s second induced red, highlighting his aggressive pressing. In the 11th round, Chongqing drew 2-2 away against Shanghai Shenhua. Late in the match, Manafa retaliated against Zhang Zhixiong after being pulled, receiving a red card and possibly further suspension. Replays showed Manafa lost his temper after being tugged by Zhang.
In 11 matches, Chongqing has induced red cards in four games – twice tactically and twice by provoking opponents into retaliation. For Shandong Taishan, facing a newly promoted side, they must be mentally prepared for this aspect. In recent matches, Taishan’s attack has recovered, especially with Crysan in good form, but he will be closely marked by Chongqing. Crysan has previously shown emotional fluctuations when tightly defended, so his composure will be crucial. The coaching staff should communicate with him in advance. Likewise, Zeka will face tight marking due to his height advantage, and he must also be wary of opponents’ rough tactics.
Additionally, with Álvaro and Li Yuanyi suspended, Taishan’s midfield and defense will be affected. Li’s position could be filled by Madruga, whose defensive abilities are solid. At center-back, Peng Xiao, Shi Songchen, and Zheng Zheng are potential options. In the last two games, Taishan switched to a four-man defense effectively, but Álvaro’s absence may impact defensive stability. Still, Taishan should stick with the four-man backline, which will test the young players. Han Peng and the coaching staff must have backup plans ready.
