On March 8, 2024, Shanghai Shenhua hosted Qingdao West Coast in the 2nd round of the Chinese Super League.
Shenhua showed a strong desire to attack in the beginning of the match. In the 13th minute, Malelai had a one-touch chance to shoot with his right foot to the top corner of the goal, but the ball regrettably hit the goal frame and bounced out, failing to score. However, Malelai did not get discouraged. In the 22nd minute, Shenhua's second attack kicked into the penalty area, Andre Luis headed the ball into the box, and Malelai got the ball inside the penalty area and scored, breaking the deadlock for Shenhua first. However, after the breakthrough, Malelai fell to the ground and was injured, unable to insist on the game, which undoubtedly brought some impact on Shenhua's offense.
Despite facing personnel changes, Shenhua did not relax their control over the game. In the 37th minute, Qingdao West Coast made a mistake in returning the ball and Shenhua seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Xie Pengfei, who came on as a substitute for Malelai, received a pass from Wu Xi on the side road, and sent a precise pass without stopping the ball, and Andre Luis easily broke the goal with a pie, giving Shenhua a 2:0 lead.
In the second half of the match, Qingdao West Coast tried to strengthen their offense to recover the defeat. In the 59th minute, Qingdao West Coast counterattacked on the break, Alan got the ball from the left road and cut the ball and shot from outside, but the ball hit the crossbar and failed to change the score. In the 69th minute, Xie Pengfei took a free kick and shot directly at the goal, the ball hit the right side of the goal post and then bounced on the left side of the post, and eventually failed to break the goal. In the 85th minute, Qingdao West Coast got a corner kick opportunity, but Alan's header was again denied by the crossbar.
In the end, Shanghai Shenhua defeated Qingdao West Coast with a score of 2:0.
