Back-to-back four-game winning streak! From a 4-4 draw to a 4-0 victory, Guoan this time “basically didn’t let the opponent cross the midfield.”

Special Contributor / Song Ci On April 15, four months ago, Beijing Guoan played away against Wuhan Three Towns. Despite a big lead, the opponent managed to equalize at 4-4. That game was considered a humiliating defeat for Guoan this season. After 132 days, the two teams met again at Beijing Workers' Stadium. Guoan still scored 4 goals but this time kept a clean sheet, delivering a 4-0 win and bringing joy to the capital’s fans with a recent four-match winning streak across two competitions.

Facing a lower-mid table opponent who had gone seven games without a win, this match originally lacked much spotlight. But for Guoan fans and the team itself, no one could forget that 4-4 draw in the first leg. Where they lost face, they had to reclaim it. So against Wuhan Three Towns, Guoan was definitely fired up, ready to fight fiercely at home.

As the team’s form gradually recovered, Guoan’s confidence and morale visibly improved. At the pre-match press conference, head coach Setien voluntarily mentioned the first leg against Wuhan Three Towns: “We still clearly remember what happened in that away game in Wuhan. Looking back seriously, we started well. If you exclude the last 10 minutes, we played a great match, but some incidents occurred in those final minutes. This shows football is unpredictable; you can’t assume control means an easy victory.”

This was Setien’s first public admission that “incidents” happened during that 4-4 match. By bringing it up again, Setien clearly aimed to use past lessons to remind everyone that the same “story” must not repeat itself this time.

In fact, the match progression showed Guoan went all out from the start in a revenge mode, almost launching a full-scale attack on Wuhan. This was partly because the opponent chose not to press high but instead defended densely at the back. The formation and tactics Wuhan used were exactly what Guoan wanted to see. Even Guoan players admitted after the game: “Overall, it was relatively easy today because the opponent defended deep, so we had an easier time building from the back. They didn’t put much pressure on us.”

It was precisely because Wuhan Three Towns gave up frontline pressing that Guoan’s offense flowed so smoothly. In the first half, Guoan’s possession reached 82%, with 14 shots, while the opponent managed only one shot. Such stats made Guoan’s 2-0 halftime lead a very reasonable outcome.

With goals from Lin Liangming and Zhang Yuning in the second half, Guoan extended the lead to 4-0 by the 60th minute. More importantly, these goals signaled the revival of two key national players. Lin Liangming had missed several matches due to injury and performed poorly upon return, but his assist and goal today helped the team twice and reminded everyone of his true “Lin Emperor” quality.

Zhang Yuning, who scored in this match, has now netted goals in both legs against Wuhan Three Towns this season. This goal was not only his 50th in the Chinese Super League but also the 800th goal Guoan has scored at Workers' Stadium across all competitions.

Setien expressed great satisfaction with the players’ performance, stating that the team controlled the game’s rhythm from start to finish: “Except for one threatening counterattack by the opponent in the first half, we controlled the match well overall. It might look like an easy game, but the opponent’s defense was actually very solid. Overall, they barely left their half and had few chances. My players performed excellently and created many opportunities.”

Zhang Yuning, who scored the fourth goal, was substituted shortly after due to injury, causing concern among fans. Fortunately, checks showed no serious issues, and it likely won’t affect upcoming matches. This is undoubtedly good news for Guoan, as the team has been heavily impacted by injuries recently and can hardly afford more setbacks.

Before the FA Cup semi-finals, Guoan had only two foreign players available, causing fans to worry about a possible upset at home. Unexpectedly, under such difficulties, Guoan delivered a 7-0 thrashing. This match still featured only two foreign players, but at critical moments, Guoan players stood firm. The recent four-match winning streak is truly a collective effort by the whole team.

Regarding the team’s recent performance in two competitions, Setien frankly said: “A key factor in these wins is that players who previously had limited playing time stepped up at crucial moments. For example, Chi Zhongguo was one of today’s best performers. Fan Shuangjie is another; today was his 20th birthday, and despite his youth, he improves every match. There are many players like them in the squad.”

As Setien mentioned, with many main players injured, both veterans and newcomers in Guoan have gritted their teeth and stepped up. This is exactly the team spirit the club emphasizes and also the fundamental reason no players were let go during the second transfer window.

The recent victories have moved Guoan back to second place in the standings, narrowing the gap with leaders Shenhua to just one point. However, Guoan clearly understands this only marks passing an initial crisis; tougher matches lie ahead. Even coach Setien openly mentioned the next two or three games will be tough battles. Whether facing Shandong, Henan, or Shanghai Port, no mistakes can be afforded.

For Guoan, the focus now is on fighting match by match. Calculating points and rankings at this stage is less meaningful. Playing well in every game and preventing a repeat of incidents like the away match at Wuhan Three Towns, avoiding regrets at the season’s end, might be the best outcome.