August 24: Chengdu Rongcheng Lead CSL with 48 Points, Shanghai Port Only 26 Points in 8th, Leckie Returns After Retirement and Could Come Back in Winter Window

In the early hours of August 22, 2026, all matches of CSL Round 23 had concluded. Chengdu Rongcheng remained top with 48 points, 13 points ahead of second-place Beijing Guoan. Last season's champions Shanghai Port had only 26 points and ranked eighth. The biggest surprise came from Yunnan Yukun, previously regarded as part of the second tier of title contenders, as they scored five goals for a big win and reduced the gap among six mid-table teams to within five points, turning the Asian competition qualification race into a wide-open battle.

At this stage, the title race in the CSL is almost decided early. Chengdu Rongcheng have secured one place in next season's Asian competition main tournament, while the remaining three places will be contested by six teams from second to seventh place, with none having a guaranteed qualification path.

The current league table picture has become clear. Leaders Chengdu Rongcheng have 14 wins, 6 draws and 3 losses, scoring 45 goals and conceding 24, with a 13-point advantage. With seven rounds remaining, three more victories would allow them to secure the first CSL title in club history two rounds early.

Behind them, Beijing Guoan rank second with 35 points, followed by Yunnan Yukun with 34. Shandong Taishan, Qingdao West Coast and Dalian Yingbo are in the next group with 33 points each, while Chongqing Tonglianglong are seventh with 30 points. Shanghai Port, last season's champions, have 26 points from eight wins, seven draws and eight losses and have effectively exited the race for Asian qualification.

This CSL season has completely broken away from the traditional title-contending pattern of recent years. Established strong teams have struggled collectively while southwest clubs have risen together, a scenario almost impossible to predict before the season began.

The Beijing Guoan 3-0 Shanghai Port match was viewed by many fans as a major clash before kickoff. Beijing Guoan entered with three straight wins, while defending champions Shanghai Port desperately needed points to stabilize their position. In their previous five meetings, Guoan held a slight advantage with two wins, two draws and one loss.

In the 12th minute, Sergio sent a through ball from the center to split the Port defense, allowing Zhang Yuning to finish into the far corner for a 1-0 lead. In the 57th minute of the second half, Zhang Xizhe converted a penalty to make it 2-0. In the 81st minute, Fang Hao scored in a counterattack to seal a 3-0 victory.

Beijing Guoan had 58% possession, 17 shots and eight on target, while Shanghai Port managed only six shots with two on target and created few dangerous chances. The 3-0 win was highly valuable, giving Guoan four straight victories and keeping them firmly in second place. Their strong form has made them one of the strongest contenders for Asian qualification.

Yunnan Yukun 5-3 opponents. As the biggest dark horse team this season, Yunnan Yukun had maintained powerful attacking output. Forward Oscar Maritu led the CSL scoring chart with 18 goals, while midfielder Yonicha ranked first in assists with 12.

The two teams started an attacking battle from the first minute. Maritu opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the seventh minute, and both sides scored four goals before halftime. Yunnan Yukun continued attacking after the break, repeatedly breaking through the opponent's defense on counterattacks to win the shootout 5-3.

Yunnan Yukun produced 22 shots in the match, with 11 on target, showing remarkable attacking efficiency. Maritu alone had seven shots and three on target, scoring a hat-trick to lead the victory. However, after the win they still remained third in the table, with two teams on 33 points close behind, meaning every upcoming match is crucial.

In another key match completed earlier, Shandong Taishan recovered from conceding two goals to score three and beat their opponents 3-2. Crysan scored twice, bringing his total to 14 goals and placing him second in the scoring chart alongside Felipe, Ratão and Cádiz. The win kept Shandong in the leading group, and one victory in their upcoming postponed match would move them directly into second place and keep their Asian qualification hopes alive.

Unexpectedly, former Chengdu Rongcheng key defender Leckie, who had been missed by many fans, has produced another twist in his story. He announced retirement early in the year to spend time with his family, leaving many fans disappointed. But only months later, he quietly returned to action in the Dutch third division, appearing regularly and maintaining excellent form. He has made seven appearances, averaged 10.3 kilometers of running distance per game and recorded a 67% success rate in duels, showing little sign of having taken a retirement break.

According to Dutch local media reports, Leckie has communicated with his agent team and hopes to find a club during the winter window where he can maintain a high competitive level. Chengdu Rongcheng have never closed the door on his return, and discussions between the two sides are quietly progressing.

As a result, Chengdu Rongcheng are not only dominating the league table but could also welcome back a key defensive player during the winter window, further improving squad depth. With more than four months before the CSL winter window opens, Leckie could return to Chengdu Rongcheng as a free agent if he continues receiving regular playing time and maintaining his form, without requiring a transfer fee.

This turnaround is even more dramatic than the CSL Round 23 storyline itself. Few expected that a key defender who officially retired at the start of the year could have the chance to return to the CSL and rejoin Chengdu Rongcheng, the club he previously represented.

Looking at the overall situation after CSL Round 23, Chengdu Rongcheng's title win appears to have little suspense. The remaining focus is the Asian qualification battle among teams ranked second to seventh. The six teams are separated by only five points, and a two-game losing streak could send any of them from the qualification zone into the middle of the table.

Leckie's potential return gives league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng even more confidence. They can rotate their squad more boldly in upcoming matches, give younger players more opportunities, and wait for the winter window to bring back the defensive anchor to prepare for next season's two-front Asian campaign with a stronger squad.

This CSL season has truly been full of surprises. Nobody knows when the next twist will appear, and this kind of intense competition involving everyone is exactly the type of league experience fans want to see.