Picture this: the clock ticks past the 90-minute mark, deep into stoppage time. Changchun Yatai, led by Portuguese coach Ricardo Soares, is up 3-2 against Zhejiang Professional. Their opponents are down to nine players. Victory seems locked in, a vital step in their desperate fight to stay in China’s top football division. Then, disaster strikes. Yago Cariello, a Brazilian forward with experience at UD Santarém and Portimonense, snatches an equalizer for Zhejiang. It was the 99th minute, and the game ended in a crushing 3-3 draw at home.
This result felt like a punch to the gut for Changchun Yatai. Their mission is clear: avoid relegation. Stumbling at home like this makes the path much harder. They played Zhejiang Professional on matchday 25, a game they desperately needed to win. Instead, they left with just one point, feeling like two were stolen right from under their noses.
The match itself was a wild ride, a true rollercoaster of emotions. Things looked promising early on for Changchun Yatai. Just 26 minutes in, Zhejiang’s Nok-Hang Leung received a straight red card. A minute later, Changchun capitalized on their advantage. Lazar Rosic found the back of the net, putting Soares’s side ahead. However, playing with fewer men seemed to spark Zhejiang. Alexandru Mitrita managed to pull one back, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 35th minute.
The second half brought more twists. Around ten minutes after the restart, an own goal from Yu Wang put Zhejiang Professional surprisingly in the lead. Facing this setback, Ricardo Soares quickly made two substitutions. His changes paid off almost immediately. Ohi Omoijuanfo exploded, scoring two quick goals in the 69th and 77th minutes. This brace put Changchun back in front, 3-2.
The game then took another dramatic turn. In the space of a single minute, the 78th and 79th, Zhejiang’s Li Tixiang picked up two yellow cards. He was sent off, leaving Zhejiang Professional with only nine players on the field. At this point, everyone in the stadium and watching on expected Changchun Yatai to hold on for a crucial win. But football, as always, had other plans. That late equalizer from Yago Cariello turned what should have been a celebration into pure agony.
With only five matches left in the Chinese season, this draw leaves Changchun Yatai in a very tough spot. They are provisionally second to last in the league with 17 points. That’s the same number of points as Qingdao Hainiu (14th place) and Meizhou Hakka (16th place). However, both those teams have a game in hand, making Changchun’s position even more precarious. Meanwhile, Zhejiang Professional sits comfortably in 6th place with 38 points.
The road ahead is clear, but incredibly difficult. The next match for Ricardo Soares’s team will be a monumental one. They face Qingdao Hainiu in what is essentially a final. The outcome of that game could well decide their fate in the battle to stay in the top division. It’s win or bust for Changchun Yatai.