The 2024 Chinese Super League (CSL) season wrapped up on Saturday in spectacular fashion, as star striker Wu Lei spearheaded Shanghai Port to a 5-0 home victory over Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, helping the defending champions wrap up their second straight title and third in club history.

Wu was instrumental in Shanghai Port's success throughout the fiercely-competitive season, shattering the previous single-season scoring record of 29 goals by netting 34 to finish 13 ahead of Zhejiang's Leonardo, who wound up second on the scoring list.

Port gained crucial momentum in the penultimate round when city rivals Shanghai Shenhua were held to an unexpected draw against Shenzhen Peng City. That gave the reigning titleholders a one-point advantage going into the season finale and set the stage for what was expected to be a thrilling end to the campaign.

Facing a less-motivated Tianjin side, Shanghai Port took control early, scoring within the first four minutes and maintaining dominance throughout the match to cruise to a decisive 5-0 win. Port's victory rendered the outcome of Shenhua's game at Chengdu Rongcheng irrelevant to the title race, but battle for second and third remained intense.

Playing in front of a pumped-up home crowd, Chengdu took a hard-fought lead against Shenhua, courtesy of Dong Yanfeng's goal in the 42nd minute. But veteran Wu Xi leveled the score with a header in first-half stoppage time. Yu Hanchao later entered from the bench to score the winning goal in the 81st minute, securing a 2-1 victory and second place in the standings for Shenhua, while Chengdu finished third.

While the title race concluded without major drama, the battle to avoid relegation offered a contrasting narrative. Shenzhen triumphed 2-1 over already-demoted Nantong Zhiyun, while Qingdao Hainiu edged Cangzhou Mighty Lions 1-0. Consequently, Meizhou Hakka, who lost 2-1 at Shandong Taishan, will join Nantong in the second tier next season.

According to the updated AFC Champions League rules, CSL winners Shanghai Port have earned a spot in next season's AFC Champions League Elite stage, with runners-up Shenhua entering the play-off stage.

Meanwhile, Chengdu qualified for the AFC Champions League for the first time in history, but the club's exact placement – either in the Elite stage or second tier – depends on the outcome of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) Cup final between Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Port.

If Shanghai Port clinch the CFA Cup, Chengdu will compete in the Elite stage play-offs, while the CSL's fourth-place finishers Beijing Guoan secure a spot in the second-tier group stage. But if Shandong prevail, they will claim direct entry to the Elite stage, while Chengdu go into the second-tier group stage.

In other matches on the final day of the CSL season, Zhejiang scored twice in the last 10 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw at Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Three Towns suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Qingdao West Coast, and Beijing settled for a 1-1 home draw with Henan.