Tianwangshan's battle ended in defeat, marking the first loss of the season for Guoan, who acknowledged the gap but will never give up.

Special Contributor/Song Ci On July 19, the most anticipated match of the current season's Chinese Super League, a top-of-the-table clash, kicked off as scheduled at Beijing Workers' Stadium. In this match, which boasted a perfect atmosphere, Beijing Guoan lost 1-3 to Shanghai Shenhua at home. Following this match, Guoan not only relinquished their top position but also saw multiple records come to an end.

The matches between Guoan and Shenhua are always regarded as a national derby, and this encounter was no exception, truly a peak showdown. This match would significantly influence the outcome of this year's championship. For the home team, Beijing Guoan, the atmosphere had been building up to a peak for over half a month prior to the match.

The tickets were naturally in high demand, selling out in less than two minutes after being released a week earlier. For those with season tickets or lucky enough to snag individual tickets, each of them had a special "mission" for this match: to collectively execute a "full stadium TIFO" at the Workers' Stadium.

In the days leading up to the match, hundreds of fans in the capital spontaneously prepared TIFO materials at the Workers' Stadium. The summer heat in Beijing reached nearly 40 degrees Celsius, making the efforts of these fans all the more commendable. Even Guoan's club chairman, Zhou Jinhui, visited the stadium before the match to thank these fan volunteers for their hard work in creating the atmosphere. Indeed, on the day of the match, the stands displayed the huge words: "Beijing City." Coupled with the image of the eight-armed Nezha, the atmosphere was absolutely stunning.

A total of 62,291 fans attended the match, including nearly 5,000 Shenhua supporters, creating an exceptionally rare top-tier atmosphere in the Chinese Super League. Unfortunately for the home team, Beijing Guoan lost 1-3, not only giving up their lead in the standings but also ending several records they had previously maintained.

After losing to Shenhua, Beijing Guoan's unbeaten record of 16 league matches this season came to an end, along with their 24-match unbeaten streak across all competitions spanning multiple seasons. Additionally, their previous record of winning all 12 home matches against Shenhua is now history. Notably, the last time Guoan lost was also against Shenhua, in the FA Cup quarter-finals on August 22, 2024, where they were defeated 1-2.

After the match, various figures in the Beijing football community reflected on the game, with many suggesting that the pre-match atmosphere was overly high-profile. The scenes before the match bore a striking resemblance to the rainy night at Fengti Stadium in 2007 against Changchun Yatai, leading everyone to feel a false sense of "we must win, we must take all three points." This could have created some tension for the team, or rather, a heavier psychological burden than their opponents. Particularly for Guoan, who currently lacks the strength to defeat their rivals, such a high-profile atmosphere before the match can easily become a double-edged sword that impacts their mentality.

Objectively speaking, Shenhua's victory in this match was entirely justified. Whether considering the form of domestic players or foreign signings, as well as overall tactics and on-field management, Guoan's performance was inferior to their opponents.

Shenhua's newly signed foreign player, Asue, performed exceptionally well in this match. During his strong runs, Guoan's two foreign defenders, Spajic and Ngadeu, both made mistakes, which was a major reason Guoan fell behind 0-2 within the first 20 minutes. Guoan's attack also failed to pose much threat to their opponents, and the performance of naturalized national team player Serginho, who joined this year, left fans feeling dissatisfied. Consequently, seeing former Guoan player Li Ke perform well for Shenhua inevitably stirred mixed emotions.

Looking at the domestic players, Shenhua's two veterans, Wu Xi and Yu Hanchao, proved to be invaluable assets, demonstrating their role as pillars of the team. In contrast, many experienced veterans in Guoan have largely faded from the starting lineup this season. How to effectively utilize these veterans is indeed a serious consideration for Guoan.

In the tactical battle between the two head coaches, Slutsky also emerged victorious. Shenhua's tactics in this match were very targeted, effectively exploiting Guoan's weaknesses. On the other hand, Setien was unable to respond promptly under the pressure faced by Guoan. More critically, the starting lineup featured Wang Gang moved to right-back and Cao Yongjing shifted to left-back, which made both players appear somewhat out of place. After the match, some suggested that if Li Lei played on the left and Cao Yongjing on the right, it might have yielded better results, as Li Lei had shown good form in previous training sessions.

After the match, Setien admitted that Shanghai Shenhua performed better, stating that Guoan not only started poorly by conceding a goal but also that Shenhua consistently outperformed them throughout the match. Shenhua not only defended well but also attacked quickly, with the new signing, the 19-year-old foreign player (Asue), showcasing impressive individual skills and ability to capitalize on opportunities in the front line.

Similarly, Guoan players acknowledged this defeat, expressing their determination to keep their heads up and continue fighting. With 13 matches remaining in the league, they must seriously reflect on their shortcomings while recognizing the gap with their opponents. In such challenging times, unity is crucial. What they can do now is to keep striving to perform well in every match and fight until the very last moment.