In a strong finish to a grueling road stretch, Changchun Yatai clinched a 2–0 away victory over Henan Jianye in Round 21 of the Chinese Super League. With Odion Ighalo netting a brilliant brace, Yatai wrapped up a tough four-game road series with a much-needed win. After previously taking on powerhouses from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, they secured 4 points across those away games. Now sitting at 26 points, Yatai has comfortably distanced itself from the relegation zone—a safety cushion fans tracking via Melbet APK will be glad to see.
Heading into the match, Jianye was just three points behind Yatai, making this a high-stakes relegation battle. Despite Jianye’s decent recent form—two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five—their defense was weakened by the suspension of key player Gu Cao. Yatai struck early with a textbook goal in the 11th minute: Jiang Zhe’s cross from the right found Ighalo perfectly positioned in the middle to slot home the opener. It was the Nigerian forward’s ninth goal of the season and his first in two matches.
After an intense midfield battle for most of the game, Ighalo struck again in the 63rd minute, this time off a right-wing assist from substitute Li Guang. With ten goals to his name this season, Ighalo continues to dominate as Yatai’s top scorer. The win not only marked their first victory in this four-game away stretch, but also lifted them above Shanghai Shenhua in the standings, climbing to 10th place.
Yatai’s current momentum suggests better days ahead. With only six points needed to reach the estimated 32-point survival line, and nine matches remaining, two more wins should all but guarantee safety. Given how low the bottom teams’ point totals are this season, some believe even 30 points could be enough to avoid relegation. Up next, Yatai faces Yanbian Funde in a highly anticipated home clash.
Fans across Jilin are especially eager for the upcoming “Jilin Derby,” and both Changchun Yatai and Yanbian Funde go into the fixture with morale-boosting wins. In other matches this round, Chongqing Lifan edged out Shandong Luneng 1–0, Guizhou Hengfeng stunned Shanghai Shenhua 3–0 away, and Guangzhou R&F secured an exciting 4–2 win over Jiangsu Suning. Notably, both of last season’s CSL finalists—Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning—have now lost 2–4 away at R&F’s home ground.
With everything still to play for, fans can count on Melbet APK to stay informed on team standings, upcoming fixtures, and key performances as the CSL season enters its final stretch. As the battle for safety and bragging rights heats up, this local derby may be one for the books.