On Saturday, Shanghai Shenhua achieved a remarkable feat by passing the pass rate in the Chinese Super League (CSL) for the first time in the league's history.
The team, who currently sit at the top of the CSL table, had been struggling with high levels of pass attempts throughout their recent matches, but on this day they were able to make it count.
With just under half an hour left in the game, Shenhua found themselves trailing 1-0 to Tianjin Teda. However, the team refused to give up and continued to push forward.
In the dying minutes of the match, Shenhua made a crucial defensive substitution, bringing on midfielder Yang Zhenhao as a substitute. The move paid off immediately when he was able to intercept a pass from Tianjin's midfielder, setting up a counter-attack that culminated in a goal.
The goal not only gave Shenhua a much-needed victory over their rivals, but it also marked the end of a long-standing record held by the Chinese Super League. For many years, teams had struggled to achieve a pass rate of more than 50%, but Shanghai Shenhua have now done so.
The achievement is a testament to the hard work and determination of the players involved, as well as the coaching staff who have worked tirelessly to improve the team's defensive performance.
This win will undoubtedly boost the team's confidence ahead of the upcoming fixtures, and could set them up for a successful season in the CSL.