Shenzhen Weekly Sports Update May 21: Brought to You by Shenzhen Sports Sphere

Shenzhen Leopards continue fighting for the championship in the CBA semi-finals, 2 Shenzhen pro football clubs played in the FA Cup, with one winning to now face Peng City FC, and a community club Shenzhen Celtic FC won a trophy in a HK league as the only representative from our city! All this and more in our weekly sports update!

Shenzhen Pro Teams Results:

Peng City FC (Chinese Super League - Pro Tier 1):

Results - (May 10th) Loss 1-2 vs Shandong Taishan, (May 15th) Loss 0-1 @ Henan FC, (May 19th) Draw 1-1 vs Dalian Yingbo

Upcoming - (May 24th 20:00) @ Shanghai Shenhua, (May 30th 20:00) HOME vs Qingdao Hainiu @ Shenzhen Stadium, Futian, Chinese FA Cup Round 4 @ Shenzhen Juniors FC ( June 19-21 date TBC)

Summary - Tough times roll on for Peng City. A narrow 0-1 defeat away at Henan FC on May 15th was followed by a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Dalian Yingbo on Tuesday, with a controversial penalty call for Dalian preventing a Shenzhen win. That leaves them at 3W-2D-8L with 11 points and still searching for their first away win of the season. A tricky trip to Shanghai Shenhua is up next on May 24th before returning home to host Qingdao Hainiu on May 30th, that one feels increasingly like a must-win as they sit just 1 point above Qingdao.

Photo Credit Alain

Juniors FC (Chinese League 1 - Pro Tier 2)

Results - (May 3rd) Win 4-1 @ Meizhou Hakka, (May 10th) Win 2-0 vs Shijiazhuang Gongfu, (May 16th) Win 1-0 @ Beijing Pengrui (Chinese FA Cup Round 3)

Upcoming - (May 24th 15:30) @ Changchun Yatai, (May 29th 19:30) @ Guangdong GZ-Power FC - Send us a message to join us for the away day in Guangzhou! Chinese FA Cup Round 4 - HOME vs Shenzhen Peng City FC ( June 19-21 date TBC)

Summary - Juniors FC keep marching on! A gritty 1-0 away win at Beijing Pengrui has booked them a spot in Round 4 of the Chinese FA Cup and what a tie awaits, a Shenzhen Derby against top-flight side Peng City FC! Back to league business, they head to Changchun Yatai(Relegated from Chinese Super League in 2025) on May 24th, before a huge Guangdong Derby away at league leaders Guangdong GZ-Power on May 29th that will likely decide who tops the table; as only 1 point currently seperates them.

2028 FC (Chinese League 2 - Pro Tier 3)

Results - (May 5th) Loss 0-2 vs Jiangxi Lushan FC, (May 9th) Win 2-1 vs Guizhou Guiyang Athletic, (May 15th) Loss 0-2 vs Shaanxi Union FC (Chinese FA Cup),

Upcoming Home - (May 22nd 19:30) @ Ganzhou Ruishi, (May 26th 16:00) HOME vs Wenzhou Professional @ Guanming District, Football Training Base

Summary - A mixed week for 2028 FC. They were edged out 0-2 at home by Tier 2 side Shaanxi Union FC in the Chinese FA Cup, a respectable effort against higher-league opposition but could not pull off the upset. They now sit at 3W-3D-2L with 12 points in the South Group, just 1 point out of the promotion stage zone. A return to home soil to host Wenzhou Professional on May 26th is the next chance to push back up the table.

Leopards Basketball (Chinese Basketball Association - Pro Tier 1)

CBA Semi-Finals vs Zhejiang Guangsha Lions ( Zhejiang Guangsha Lions lead series 2-0 Over Shenzhen):

Game 1: (May 16th) Loss 102-111 @ Zhejiang Guangsha Lions
Game 2: (May 18th) Loss 85-92 @ Zhejiang Guangsha Lions
Game 3: (May 21st 19:35) Leopards vs Zhejiang Guangsha Lions @ Shenzhen Sport Center Gymnasium
Game 4 (if needed): (May 23rd 19:35) Leopards vs Zhejiang Guangsha Lions @ Shenzhen Sport Center Gymnasium
Game 5 (if needed): (May 26th 19:35) Leopards @ Zhejiang Guangsha Lions

Quarter-Finals Results (2-0 Series Win over Zhejiang Golden Bulls) -

Game 1: (May 7th) Shenzhen Win 108-95 vs Zhejiang @ Shenzhen Sport Center Gymnasium
Game 2: (May 10th) Shenzhen Win 95-91 @ Zhejiang

Summary - The Leopards have it all to do. After sweeping the Golden Bulls in the QFs, they've run into a red-hot Zhejiang Guangsha Lions side and now find themselves down 2-0 in the series. Game 1 was a back-and-forth thriller that ended 111-102 to the Lions. Game 2 was a tighter, lower-scoring affair but Zhejiang Guangsha Lions held on for a 92-85 win to take a commanding series lead. The series now heads back to Shenzhen, the Leopards MUST win Game 3 at the Sport Center Gymnasium on May 21st to keep their season alive. Pack the gym, bring the noise, and let's give the team everything they need to mount a comeback!

Follow us below for full in depth reports and info on how to watch all of Shenzhen's pro teams and competitions!

Community Sports Update:

Shenzhen International Amateur Football League (SIAFL)

Results - (Game Week 6, May 18th) Tigers FC 1:6 SZ Athletic, Futura 6:4 SZ Dragons, Monster FC 3:2 SZ United, SZ Panthers 1:1 Brown Bears

Upcoming - (May 25th 20:45) GW7: Brown Bears vs SZ Dragons (Haibin B1), SZ Panthers vs Futura (Haibin B4), SZ Athletic vs SZ United (Haibin B2), Tigers FC vs Monster FC (Haibin B3)

Summary - The SIAFL is Shenzhen's top amateur football league for the international community to play in, and has been around for 13 years now featuring many players that have played at competitive levels before. SZ Athletic continue to lead the way with another emphatic win over Tigers FC 6-1 to maintain their unbeaten record and stretch their goal difference to a huge +33. SZ Panthers were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by bottom side Brown Bears (who picked up their first point of the season!), allowing Athletic to open up a 2-point gap at the top. Futura keep it interesting in 3rd with a 6-4 win over SZ Dragons, while Monster FC edged SZ United 3-2 to climb the table. Current standings after GW6: 1. SZ Athletic - 16 pts (+33 GD), 2. SZ Panthers - 14 pts (+14 GD), 3. Futura - 13 pts (+7 GD), 4. SZ United - 9 pts, 5. Monster FC - 6 pts, 6. SZ Dragons - 6 pts, 7. Tigers FC - 4 pts, 8. Brown Bears - 1 pt. GW7 kicks off May 25th -> More league info at their website siafl.org

Graphics by Adam Boushami - To use his graphic design services , contact this WeChat ID: Adame_vo

Shenzhen Celtic FC (Only Shenzhen Member of HK Legal League) - PLATE FINAL CHAMPIONS!

Results - (May 16th) HK Legal League Plate Final: Shenzhen Celtic 3-1 A.S. Dragons @ Kowloon Bay Park

Season Status - SEASON COMPLETE — Plate Final winners + 2nd in league! Summary - WHAT A WAY TO FINISH! Shenzhen Celtic FC capped off a brilliant season by lifting the 2026 HK Legal League Plate, beating A.S. Dragons 3-1 at Kowloon Bay Park on May 16th! After finishing 2nd in the 18-team league on 53 points (just 2 behind champions Victoria Park FC), they've now added some hardware to the trophy cabinet. A massive congratulations to the only Shenzhen club competing across the border, they've done the city proud!