Reported by Wang Wei, interns Li Xin and Cao Si On October 26 evening, during the 28th round of China League One, Guangzhou Leopards faced Shaanxi United at home in Yuexiu Mountain. In this decisive promotion match, Guangzhou Leopards scored first but then conceded two goals to Shaanxi United. In the 10th minute of added time, Guangzhou Leopards’ foreign player Rosa netted a crucial equalizer, making the score 2-2.

Since Chongqing Tongliang Long also drew 0-0 at home against Shijiazhuang Kungfu, they still lead Guangzhou Leopards by 2 points, keeping the final promotion spot undecided.

11,000 fans attended, a season-high turnout

The match against Shaanxi United was very important for Guangzhou Leopards. Before the game, after the club’s application, Yuexiu Mountain Stadium opened 10,000 seats to fans. As the match began, 11,000 spectators flooded in, setting a new attendance record for Guangzhou Leopards’ home games this season.

Coach Feng Feng made slight adjustments to the starting lineup for this game. Nikon and Rosa continued to play together, Cai Haochang was promoted to the starting eleven, while Carlos and Liang Xueming remained on the bench. Shaanxi United started with three foreign players in their lineup.

At the start of the match, amid the alternating cheers from both sets of fans, Guangzhou Leopards and Shaanxi United fought fiercely without yielding. Though both sides had scoring chances, the first half ended goalless.

The second half saw a sudden change. Right after the break, Guangzhou Leopards substituted Cai Haochang for Carlos to boost their attack, while Shaanxi United made no changes. Carlos immediately showed strong offensive threat. In the 48th minute, Rosa received a pass from Xiadalong at the edge of the penalty area and curled the ball into the net, putting Guangzhou Leopards ahead 1-0. At the 68th minute, Shang Yin’s powerful shot inside the box was securely caught by goalkeeper Chen Junxu. Shaanxi United then launched a counterattack; El Azrak sprinted forward and crossed the ball to the front, where Ma Xiwei volleyed into the far corner to equalize 1-1. At the 76th minute, Guangzhou Leopards conceded again: Tan Kaiyuan assisted Mirzati, who calmly finished to put Shaanxi United ahead 2-1. In the 10th minute of stoppage time, Rosa stepped up and scored the crucial equalizer, helping Guangzhou Leopards secure a point at home.

“The team’s morale has not been shaken”

After the match, Feng Feng said: “This was a very exciting game. The players experienced big swings; we led first and then fell behind, but in the end everyone held firm under pressure. Getting the draw was really hard-earned.”

Regarding failing to secure three points at home, Feng Feng stated that the team’s morale remains intact and they continue to chase Chongqing Tongliang Long: “Our team definitely has confidence; everyone has been very confident. We aimed to win this game. The match was full of ups and downs, and for the players to come back and draw after such a tough battle is very commendable.”

Hou Yu was suspended after accumulating four yellow cards and his absence affected Guangzhou Leopards on both offense and defense. Feng Feng commented: “Hou Yu’s absence certainly had an impact, as he has been a regular starter at this stage and usually plays full matches. He plays a very important role in organizing the attack and in both defensive and offensive phases.”

Rosa, who scored twice in this match, said afterwards: “This game was very important for us and everyone in Guangzhou. We really want to reach the Super League. Guangzhou is a huge city, and everyone is working hard towards this goal. Tonight, I’m very grateful to see so many fans here watching the game. I hope to see even more fans come to support us. With more fans alongside, I hope to earn more points and win more matches!”

Afterwards, Feng Feng also expressed special thanks to the over 10,000 fans who came to Yuexiu Mountain: “I want to thank all the spectators today, both our fans and Shaanxi’s fans. Their presence made the match even more exciting. This is how football should be. It’s been a long time since Yuexiu Mountain was filled. Seeing this scene excites everyone — players, coaches — it’s truly thrilling. The league should have this kind of atmosphere. We will also strive to play better matches to attract the audience back.”