Reporter Wang Wei reports On the evening of September 27, Guangzhou Leopards played away against Shanghai Jiading Huilong at the Jiading Sports Center. Rosa and Nikon scored one after another to put Guangzhou Leopards ahead twice, but Jiading Huilong’s Huang Ming and Amo leveled the score twice during stoppage time in both halves. The game finished 2-2, with both sides taking a point. Guangzhou Leopards’ winning streak ended, and their chance to equal Chongqing Tongliang Long in points vanished.

7 Matches, 6 Goals: Rosa in Fiery Form

Two hours before this match, Chongqing Tongliang Long, a promotion competitor who recently changed their coach, suffered a 0-3 away defeat to Yanbian Longding, which was undoubtedly good news for Guangzhou Leopards. Prior to this round, Guangzhou Leopards had just secured four consecutive wins, their morale high, aiming to take all three points away to catch Chongqing Tongliang Long in the standings. Meanwhile, Shanghai Jiading Huilong, winless in their last six matches, desperately needed a home victory to move away from the relegation zone.

Similar to the previous round against Chongqing Tongliang Long, Guangzhou Leopards head coach Feng Feng made no major changes to the starting lineup. However, the suspension of foreign players Carlos and Liang Xueming affected the attacking tactics significantly. On September 28, Guangzhou Leopards officially announced the removal of Carlos as captain and Liang Xueming as vice-captain.

Right from the start, Guangzhou Leopards quickly found their rhythm and took control on the field, with Rosa active in the front line. In the 25th minute, Nikon found Rosa, who skillfully turned to evade defenders and fired a left-footed long-range shot near the penalty area, scoring the opening goal. This goal highlighted Rosa’s recent hot streak, marking his sixth goal in the last seven matches.

Afterward, the game became tense with few clear chances for either side. In stoppage time of the first half, facing a high ball from Shanghai Jiading Huilong, Guangzhou Leopards’ goalkeeper Xiao Jiaqi made a mistake while rushing out, allowing number 40 Huang Ming to capitalize and score into an open net. The first half ended in a 1-1 draw.

After the break, Shanghai Jiading Huilong made substitutions, bringing on Bai Jiajun and Amo, while Guangzhou Leopards kept their lineup unchanged. In the 60th minute, Nikon made several attempts inside the box and finally scored with a precise left-footed strike, putting Guangzhou Leopards ahead 2-1 again.

In the 94th minute, Bai Jiajun was sent off with a straight red card after kicking the ball at a Guangzhou Leopards player following the referee’s whistle, leaving Shanghai Jiading Huilong with one less player. At the 96th minute, from a corner kick taken by Lukovic, goalkeeper Lin Xiang headed the ball across, and Amo connected with a volley at the far post to score, leveling the match at 2-2 once more. Shortly after, the referee blew the final whistle. Guangzhou Leopards regrettably lost two points at the last second and failed to catch Chongqing Tongliang Long in the standings.

Hope Remains, Yet Challenges Persist

Conceding goals in stoppage time of both halves was deeply regrettable for Feng Feng, but he stated, “The league is not over yet. The team will fight hard in every match, and we will battle until the very last moment.”

Missing out on extending their winning streak and the chance to equal their rival’s points came at a high cost for Guangzhou Leopards. Captain Xiadalong said, “Every second in the match counts; we must fight until the end. However, we still have opportunities ahead. We need to regain our spirit and fight through because every remaining game is like a final.”

After 24 rounds in the China League One, the standings show the struggling Liaoning Ironmen still leading comfortably with 52 points, followed closely by Chongqing Tongliang Long and Guangzhou Leopards. Yanbian Longding sits fourth with 42 points. These four teams form the promotion group this season. Of course, Liaoning Ironmen have the best chances, while Yanbian Longding faces the greatest difficulties. They must surpass both Chongqing Tongliang Long and Guangzhou Leopards, which is no easy task, especially since their last six matches include two home games and four away games, making point collection tough. Yanbian Longding is the home king this season, earning 34 points from 13 home games, even more than leader Liaoning Ironmen’s 30 points from 12 home matches. However, their away record is weak, with only one win, five draws, and five losses in 11 away games, placing them fourth from the bottom in away points.

Both Guangzhou Leopards and Chongqing Tongliang Long face opportunities as well as challenges.

In the remaining six rounds, Guangzhou Leopards have the advantage of four home games, while Chongqing Tongliang Long has only three. After suffering three consecutive defeats, Chongqing Tongliang Long will face Guangxi Pingguo away next. Although Guangxi Pingguo has struggled in the relegation zone and trails by 25 points, they have proven tough opponents for Chongqing Tongliang Long, with all three previous China League One encounters ending in draws, neither side able to overcome the other.

Guangzhou Leopards’ remaining schedule includes four home games against Shenzhen Youth, Nanjing City, Shaanxi United, and Nantong Zhiyun, along with two away matches versus Suzhou Dongwu and Qingdao Red Lions.

In the final six matches, Chongqing Tongliang Long must aim to win every game they are expected to win; Guangzhou Leopards, on the other hand, need to secure all their winnable matches and then hope their rivals slip up.