Reporter Wang Wei reports On the evening of September 26, during the 26th round of the Chinese Super League, Meizhou Hakka traveled to Shanghai Stadium to face Shanghai Shenhua, ultimately losing 1-6. This marked their fifth consecutive match without a win, keeping them at the bottom of the standings. On October 4 at 19:00, Meizhou Hakka will host Qingdao Hainiu in a relegation showdown that will determine their fate in the league.

Tactical choices made in the away game at Shanghai

On the evening of September 26, facing the third-placed Shanghai Shenhua who are title contenders, Meizhou Hakka suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far. Hampered by poor finishing and a fragile defense, they were ultimately overwhelmed.

In this match, Meizhou Hakka made adjustments to their starting lineup, with Yang Yihu and Tian Ziyi included. Clearly, in preparation for the crucial relegation match at home against Qingdao Hainiu on October 4, the team chose to hold back some strength in Shanghai. The difference in quality led to Meizhou Hakka conceding goals in quick succession, and the 1-6 loss to Shenhua was somewhat expected by the team.

Meizhou Hakka’s interim coach Qu Gang said after the match: "The result fully reflects the gap in strength between the two teams. Although our players gave their all on the field, their abilities were indeed limited. Moving forward, we will continue to work hard and prepare for the upcoming matches."

Given Meizhou Hakka’s current bottom position and schedule, the team has effectively made strategic choices, focusing their efforts on matches against teams of similar strength. After the away game against Shanghai Shenhua, Meizhou Hakka returned home to prepare for the relegation battle against Qingdao Hainiu. For Meizhou, the priority now is to quickly recover from the heavy loss and actively prepare for the critical home match against Qingdao Hainiu.

By the evening of September 27, Meizhou Hakka had returned to their base at Wuhua Football Town in Meizhou. After adjustments, the team immediately began preparations for the match against Qingdao Hainiu. The relegation situation is precarious, causing anxiety not only among fans but throughout the entire squad. They hope to stabilize their form and halt the downward trend as soon as possible.

After losing at home to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, the team changed coaches. Qu Gang, who had served as assistant coach for many years, was appointed interim head coach. Since taking over, Qu led the team to a draw away against Henan, followed by heavy defeats to Shandong and Shanghai Port, then an away win over Wuhan Three Towns, which was a highlight. However, they then went five matches without a win. In nine games under Qu’s leadership, the record stands at one win, two draws, and six losses, with only five points earned. Meizhou Hakka has not stopped declining, putting great pressure on Coach Qu.

The team longs for more support

During the slump, reporters spoke with several Meizhou Hakka players. The general consensus is that this is the current state of the squad this season: "Right now, these are the only players we have, so we need to tap into internal potential." For Meizhou Hakka, the room for internal growth is already very limited. Yi Xianlong, who has been selected multiple times for national youth teams, might be the team’s last hope. This player, who returned home from Meizhou, is eager to contribute to the team.

“At this moment, Meizhou Hakka needs support from all sectors of society because our fighting spirit remains, our energy is still there, and we don’t want to give up!” a Meizhou Hakka player told reporters. The team faces many difficulties; beyond a thin roster, a key issue is a single source of investment. This season’s slim lineup is directly related to limited financial resources. “As long as the spirit is there, there is hope for the team. No matter how tough it gets, we will fight until the very last moment,” said Qu Gang. United in their battle for survival, Meizhou Hakka’s players eagerly seek more support.

On the evening of September 27, Meizhou Hakka players paid close attention to the match between Changchun Yatai and Qingdao Hainiu. The result directly impacts Meizhou’s relegation prospects. Changchun Yatai scored two late goals by Tan Long and Afeildin to level the match at 2-2. This draw gave both teams one point each, leaving them tied at 18 points, just one point ahead of Meizhou Hakka’s 17. Many Meizhou players believe this draw improves their chances of catching up. “Qingdao Hainiu has 18 points, we have 17. The October 4 home match against Hainiu is extremely important — it’s a genuine relegation battle.” Besides the home matches against Qingdao Hainiu, the upcoming games versus Yunnan Yukun and Dalian Yingbo are equally critical. Meizhou Hakka clearly understands: “Every one of these matches is a relegation battle!”