Reporter Wang Wei reports On the evening of August 23, a makeup game for the 13th round of China League One was held in Weinan, where Guangzhou Leopards won 2-1 away against Shaanxi United, earning their second consecutive victory and holding steady in third place in the standings. After the game, acting head coach Feng Feng said in an interview, “This tough match against Shaanxi United is meant to stimulate the players’ enthusiasm and potential!”

Last-minute change of starting goalkeeper before the match

Shaanxi United and Guangzhou Leopards have grown together in the league. Over the past two seasons, the two teams faced each other four times in China League Two and the Chinese Champions League, with each side winning once in the Champions League and drawing twice in League Two.

During the pre-match warm-up, Guangzhou Leopards encountered an unexpected situation: the original starting goalkeeper Chen Zhao suddenly got injured. The coaching staff quickly made an emergency adjustment. “Chen Zhao got hurt during the pitch inspection, and after confirming he couldn’t play this match, we chose another goalkeeper, Xiao Jiaqi, as the starter. This was his first league appearance this year, and he performed very maturely and steadily, showing excellent form,” Feng Feng told reporters.

Besides the 21-year-old goalkeeper Xiao Jiaqi, Feng Feng’s starting lineup featured foreign players Carlos and Nikon, with Han Xuan, Deng Biao, and Wang Jianming forming a three-man central defense. The left and right wingbacks were Dan Pengfei and Yang Hao, with Hou Yu as team captain on the field. “Because Jiang Jihong and Liang Xueming were suspended, we made some adjustments in our lineup, using Deng Biao in central defense. We brought on Rosa and Xiadalong in the second half, and also used Zeng Chao to leverage his experience,” Feng Feng explained in his post-match review. “Zeng Chao has maintained excellent training form. We had gained an advantage in the first half, and in the latter stages, we needed to improve our passing and finishing, which is where his experience was crucial. Additionally, we made some changes in corner kicks and free kicks, which also showed positive effects during the match.”

Right at the start of the second half, Guangzhou Leopards brought on Rosa and Zeng Chao, quickly seeing results. In the 48th minute, Nikon delivered a corner kick that sparked chaos in the penalty area, allowing Carlos to break through Shaanxi United’s defense and score, putting Guangzhou Leopards ahead 1-0. In the 69th minute, Rosa’s shot deflected off a defender into the net, extending Guangzhou Leopards’ lead to two goals on the road. Later, in the 76th minute, Wei Zhiwei scored a long-range goal to pull one back for Shaanxi United, but the match ended 2-1 in favor of Guangzhou Leopards.

Strong emotional ties to Shaanxi

Regarding the key to victory in this match, Feng Feng believed it was partly due to strong fighting spirit and partly because the whole team got into the game very quickly. “This match unfolded just as we predicted before the game. Both teams competed fiercely from the start. Toward the end of the first half, we had already gained the upper hand in possession and tempo, basically following our game plan. So at halftime, we brought on Rosa and Zeng Chao to continue pressing the attack, and it worked very well.”

Guangzhou Leopards and Shaanxi United are longstanding rivals, and Feng Feng previously coached in Shaanxi, making this match especially meaningful for him. After the game, Feng Feng expressed his emotions, saying the Shaanxi fans still show him great affection. “Every time I come to Shaanxi, I am moved to tears. The fans here care about me deeply, which touches me a lot. Our squad also has many Shaanxi connections—four starters, Wang Jianming, Deng Biao, Han Xuan, and Ma Junliang, have all played for Shaanxi teams, and I coached them during my time in Shaanxi,” Feng Feng said. “Several of our coaches also used to work with Shaanxi teams, such as assistant coaches Chi Jingtian and Yan Feng, and goalkeeper coach Li Wei is from Shaanxi. We have a strong emotional bond with Shaanxi, so after the match, we thanked the Shaanxi fans for their support.”

Speaking about the recent changes in the team, Feng Feng said, “The team has improved in fighting spirit and ball control. Recently, we have been injecting new elements into the squad, but these need to be tested in matches, including our control of the game and possession, which we emphasize constantly. For example, the overall defensive coordination and fighting spirit are things we value highly. Through this tough match against Shaanxi United, we have sparked the players’ passion and potential. According to our data, the players’ physical condition and abilities are improving, including passing and possession rates. The team is moving in a positive direction.”

After this makeup match, Guangzhou Leopards firmly hold third place in the standings, nine points behind the promotion zone. With nine rounds left in the league, promotion is still possible. How will the team adjust during this break? Feng Feng responded, “Currently, there is no particularly strong or weak team in China League One. Every match is intensely competitive, regardless of ranking or home and away status. Each game is tough. Therefore, the most important thing is to focus on ourselves, to refine our overall tactical and technical quality, and ensure players maintain good physical condition and perform consistently in matches. Additionally, emphasizing teamwork, courage in fighting, and details like quick transitions in attack and defense will strengthen our competitiveness.”