The prestigious Century-old Schools Cup for the junior high division has concluded with Guangzhou No. 5 Middle School clinching the championship after six consecutive wins without conceding a single goal.

Written by Han Bing Chase your football dreams—visit Hengyang! After six days of fierce competition, on the evening of August 20th, the second “Century-old Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament” (junior boys division), guided by the Chinese Football Association and co-hosted by Information Times and Football Newspaper, with support from the China Football Development Foundation, Hengyang Municipal Education Bureau, Hengyang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Television and Sports, and Shenzhen Kais Education Information Co., Ltd, concluded at Hengyang No. 20 Middle School (Chuanshan English School) in Hunan Province.

That evening, Guangzhou No. 5 Middle School edged out Changsha Yali Foreign Language School 1-0 in the final to take the title, leaving the latter as runners-up. In the third-place match, Nanchang No. 2 Middle School defeated Xi’an Tieyi Middle School 2-0 to claim third place, with Xi’an finishing fourth. He Xuefeng, Deputy Director of Hengyang Education Bureau; Liu Xiaoxin, President of Football Newspaper; Dong Xun, Head of Physical Education, Health and Arts Division of Hengyang Education Bureau; and Zeng Yunsheng, Principal of Hengyang No. 20 Middle School (Chuanshan English School), presented awards to the winning teams.

The final featured the U13 champions of the 2024 China Youth Football League, Changsha Yali Foreign Language School (hereafter referred to as Yali Foreign Language), facing Guangzhou No. 5 Middle School (hereafter Guangzhou No. 5). This match not only brought together the top teams of this year’s Century-old Schools Cup, but was also dubbed the “No. 5 Derby.” This nickname comes from the fact that Yali Foreign Language is part of the Yali Education Group, and Yali Middle School was once renamed “Changsha No. 5 Middle School” in 1952, before reverting to “Yali Middle School” in 1985.

Guangzhou No. 5 was missing its suspended captain Gao Haoran, injured key defender Jiang Haoyu, and goalkeeper Chen Yitao for the final, while Yali Foreign Language fielded almost its full-strength squad. However, the match took an unexpected turn when, just one minute in, Guangzhou No. 5’s No. 12, Chen Jitao, intercepted the ball up front and scored on a breakaway. Although Yali Foreign Language dominated possession, they failed to create any clear scoring chances. Early in the second half, Yali Foreign Language made substitutions to strengthen their attack. Nevertheless, Guangzhou No. 5 remained resilient and, thanks to their solid defense, held on for a 1-0 victory to claim the championship.

It’s worth noting that this was not the first time these two teams had competed for a school football title. Five years ago, at the 2020 China Junior High School Football Championship and 18th World School Games Football Selection Tournament, Yali Foreign Language defeated defending champions Guangzhou No. 5 with a 3-2 scoreline, winning the tournament with a perfect record. This time, in the “Century-old Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament” (junior division), Guangzhou No. 5 not only matched Yali Foreign Language’s unbeaten run from five years ago but did so even more impressively: six straight wins, no goals conceded, and sweeping all individual awards for best coach, best player, top scorer, and best goalkeeper.

Coach Zhao Shaowei, who led Guangzhou No. 5 to victory, commented: “Our opponents in the final were last year’s youth league champions. We stuck to our tactics and played our own style, so the players didn’t need to feel any mental pressure. The team fought hard, and several players were injured during the match. I’m very proud of their performance. Thanks to the ‘Century-old Schools Cup’ platform, many of our players have now won their first major tournament trophy.”

Head coach Wen Fan of Yali Foreign Language remarked: “The final’s opponent was very strong and worthy of our respect. I always emphasize to my players that losing can be more valuable than winning. Victories bring honor, but defeats help you grow and reach new heights, as long as you reflect well. We’re grateful for high-level school football tournaments like the ‘Century-old Schools Cup,’ which give our players great opportunities to develop.”

Guangzhou No. 5 not only won the championship but also swept all individual honors. Head coach Zhao Shaowei received the Best Coach award; captain Gao Haoran was named Best Player; Wang Jingwei took the Top Scorer award; and Chen Yitao was recognized as Best Goalkeeper. Gao Haoran, who won Best Player, said that although he was suspended for the final and couldn’t play, he always believed his teammates would excel and bring home the honor. Chen Yitao, who earned Best Goalkeeper, represented Guangzhou No. 5’s perfect defensive record, saying that the flawless defense was a team effort, and that substitute goalkeeper Deng Junxi, who started in the final, also performed admirably, stopping several dangerous attacks from the opposition.

Wang Jingwei, the tournament’s top scorer, expressed his gratitude to his teammates for enabling him to win this award. Chen Jitao, who scored the decisive goal in the final, was ecstatic: “Before the match, I dreamed of making an early impact and setting the tone, but I never imagined my dream would come true. This was my first time scoring in a final, and it will be one of my most unforgettable memories.” In the end, the four Guangzhou No. 5 individual award winners lifted the championship trophy together, shouting the passionate slogan “No. 5 must win!” and promising to meet again at next year’s Century-old Schools Cup.

Over the past week, the second “Century-old Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament” (junior division) has drawn significant attention in Hengyang, Hunan. Hengyang is renowned for both education and sports, with a strong football tradition. This tournament has played a crucial role in promoting the future development of school football in the city. The future looks bright for football in Hengyang.