Before the make-up match, Port received a two-day "holiday" reward.

Written by Cheng Shan Having completed another difficult back-to-back away games, coach Muscat brought Port back to Shanghai. After beating Three Towns that evening, he announced a two-day break to the players. The team had been under constant pressure from consecutive matches and needed to unwind. Muscat himself also needed a breather.

In the 23rd round of the Chinese Super League, Port faced Three Towns away. With seven rounds left, the defending champions Port had not yet fully escaped danger, and every away game carried heavy pressure. Internally, the club had regarded the two away matches against Chongqing and Wuhan as crucial for points; a loss would have worsened the situation dramatically.

In the 22nd round, Port narrowly defeated Tongliang Long 3-2, getting off to a good start. But before heading to Wuhan, the atmosphere in the Port camp was still somewhat tense. "One reason is the pressure of our own results—the relegation line is there. Another is the coaching change of the city rival (Shenhua), which also stirred some feelings," said a club insider.

When the lineup was announced, Wu Lei started, instantly becoming a focus. After all, Wu Lei's last start for Port in the CSL was on November 2, 2024, the final matchday against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, where he contributed to five goals, helping the team defend the title. Since then, he had been plagued by injuries. In the 2025 season, he only made six substitute appearances.

After 21 months, Wu Lei returned to the starting lineup in the CSL. Over the past few weeks, continuous rehabilitation training and gym adjustments had gradually shown results: pain slowly eased, and his running and power during training improved significantly. After consulting the team doctor, the coaching staff included him in the starting eleven.

The match quickly took a turn Port least wanted. Shortly after kickoff, Port conceded a goal. Three Towns scored with a header past Yan Junling. Throughout the first half, Port played timidly, struggling to advance into the opponent's half, often passing horizontally. There were few threats, with only a curling shot from Melendo hitting the crossbar as the closest attempt.

Trailing 0-1, the players returned to the locker room with low spirits. Muscat not only made simple tactical adjustments but also focused on communication about mental attitude and game mentality.

Returning to the pitch in the second half, Port's players rallied, showing a refreshed mental state and competitive form.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Port completely unleashed. First, Wei Zhen equalized with a header, then Anpem scored twice, quickly making it 3-1. But Three Towns did not give up; they narrowed the deficit to one goal. In stoppage time, Three Towns scored again, but it was ruled offside, and Port held on to the hard-fought victory, securing three points.

This dramatic comeback victory was extremely tough for Port. Anpem had a breakout game, dedicating his goals to his unborn child. "My first child is about to be born, which makes me very happy and means so much. Although my last goal was disallowed, which made me very disappointed and frustrated, today I scored two goals, giving me another chance to dedicate them to my baby. It feels wonderful," he said.

Wu Lei, starting again after 21 months, played nearly 70 minutes without obvious physical discomfort. After the match, he admitted that the long injury ordeal had finally seen a glimmer of hope, but he needed to monitor his condition further. He was also clear about the team's current issues: "In multiple consecutive matches, the team has been slow to get into the game from the start. This is something we must seriously review and correct. But these two hard-earned away victories are gradually restoring the confidence that we had lost for a long time."

Winning back-to-back away games against Chongqing and Wuhan, securing six points, was crucial for Port to improve their current situation. They now have 25 points, and with one more game played, they are 10 points ahead of second-from-bottom Three Towns, greatly improving their relegation situation. Muscat has temporarily overcome his coaching crisis. With four months left on his contract, consecutive away wins at least prove that he can also handle tough times.

Of course, two consecutive wins do not mean the crisis is completely over. Port used to compete for the title and have little experience dealing with relegation pressure. With the remaining schedule, they still face pressure: on August 19, Port will host Yingbo in a make-up match. In September, Port will start multi-front campaigns, and various national teams will call up many players. In the final stretch of the league, their opponents are Guoan, Zhejiang, Rongcheng, Jinmen Tiger, and Tieren—almost all tough matches. They must grit their teeth and persevere.