Beijing Guoan's Dawhan (second from right) celebrates after scoring during the Chinese FA Super Cup match against Shanghai Port on March 1, 2026 in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Beijing Guoan claimed a surprise 2-0 victory over Shanghai Port in the 2026 Chinese FA Super Cup in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, amid heavy rain on Sunday, with their new-look squad delivering a clinical performance to secure the first major trophy of the season. It marks Guoan's third FA Super Cup win following 1997 and 2003. 

The win, under the gaze of 40,169 spectators at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, marks a perfect start for new coach Nick Montgomery and provides a much-needed boost for the club, which, like Shanghai Port, starts the 2026 Chinese Super League (CSL) season with a five-point deduction due to previous scandals.

"I am proud of all the players, especially the old players for creating a real family environment for new players to adapt," Montgomery told reporters at a news conference, contributing the win to his players' team efforts. 

"It's not fair to single out any individual player for the win as all the players did their best," said Montgomery after winning his first trophy with Guoan since taking over of the team in January 2026.

Guoan won last season's Chinese FA Cup by defeating Henan FC 3-0, while Port were the champions of the 2025 CSL season. This was the third straight Super Cup final for Port but they have yet to win one.

The Super Cup match saw the return of several Port players to competition who had been beleaguered by injuries, including star forward Wu Lei. Shanghai Port entered the match as favorites despite missing several key players due to injuries. Head coach Kevin Muscat fielded a strengthened midfield featuring new signings of Jean Claude and Lu Yongtao, but the team struggled to find their rhythm against Beijing Guoan's high-intensity pressure. 

Guoan, who underwent a significant squad rebuild during the winter transfer window, took the lead in the 31st minute through a long shot from Brazilian midfielder Dawhan that past Port keeper Yan Junling. Midfielder Cao Yongjing extended the lead to two goals with a left-foot shot in the penalty box in the 84th minute. 

Thanks to the goal, Dawhan was named the MVP of the match, while Cao also hailed the team cohesion for the win.

"I'm really grateful for the hard work of the whole team. During preseason training, we strictly followed the coach's arrangements. I'm really happy to win the Super Cup," Cao told reporters. 

"Preseason training was really tough this year. Between the national team and the new head coach at Guoan, I've also gotten tanner and thinner. None of this would have been possible without everyone's hard work."

Guoan's victory marks a new chapter for the club following their winter rebuild, while Shanghai Port will look to recover from this setback as they prepare for their upcoming CSL fixtures.

Port head coach Muscat said the team was disappointed by the result but also sees the defeat as a chance to right wrongs. "We had a lot of changes but that's not about making excuses," Muscat said. "I am sure we will get better in this part of the game, we will get stronger."

Beijing Guoan will open their 2026 CSL season by visiting Wuhan Three Towns on March 8, while Shanghai Port will start their title defense by hosting Henan FC on March 7.