Reporter Lu Mi reports On October 26 evening, the Chongqing Tongliang Long Stadium was full to capacity for the highlight match of the 28th round in this season’s China League One. The home side Chongqing Tongliang Long controlled most of the play but failed to convert chances, ending in a goalless draw against Shijiazhuang Kungfu.

After this round of China League One, the league leader Liaoning Ironmen have already secured promotion two rounds early, leaving the final promotion spot contested between Tongliang Long with 56 points and Guangzhou Leopard with 54 points. With two rounds remaining, especially the next match against Suzhou Dongwu, Tongliang Long must continue to earn points.

A tightly contested match with intense atmosphere

In the first leg, visiting Tongliang Long failed to score and lost 1-3 to Shijiazhuang Kungfu, aided only by an own goal from the opponent. Compared to the previous away match against Dalian Kunchen, Chongqing Tongliang Long made only one personnel change on the 26th evening, with Huang Xiyang returning from suspension replacing Carrillo. Once the match began, Tongliang Long launched a strong offensive to seek revenge, frequently attacking down the flanks. In the 11th minute, forward Leonardo took a long-range shot that was bravely blocked by a defender. At the 25th minute, Leonardo skillfully laid off a pass to Xiang Yuwang, who created space near the penalty area and fired a powerful shot, but it was securely caught by the Shijiazhuang goalkeeper. This local striker, who had scored in three consecutive rounds, was closely marked by the opponents in this game.

Shijiazhuang Kungfu adopted a firm defensive counterattack strategy, building a solid barrier led by defenders Liu Le and Yang Yun. Although Tongliang Long managed six shots in the first half, only one was on target, highlighting their difficulty in converting dominance into goals. In a fierce contest, Ruan Qilong received a yellow card for a flying tackle in the 27th minute. Both sides fought hard but neither could change the scoreline.

Before the match, Shijiazhuang Kungfu ranked fifth in the league, showing considerable strength. Their head coach Niu Hongli’s first match after taking over mid-season was an away challenge against Tongliang Long, handing Tongliang Long their first defeat of the season. In this return match at Tongliang Long’s home ground, Shijiazhuang Kungfu naturally set up a dense defensive formation to avoid conceding goals. Under the opponent’s layered defense, Tongliang Long created only limited real threats.

In the second half, eager to gain points, Tongliang Long became increasingly tense in the tight battle. At the 55th minute, Xiang Yuwang turned and shot inside the box, the ball narrowly grazing the post. At the 59th minute, Leonardo performed a bicycle kick amid the crowd, but the ball just missed the target, drawing a sigh of regret from the fans. Shijiazhuang Kungfu made substitutions in the 73rd minute, bringing on Wang Jingbin and Gao Huaze to strengthen their counterattacks. The former, who scored in the first leg, repeatedly posed threats.

As the match entered injury time, a dramatic moment unfolded. At the 90+2 minute mark, Tongliang Long took a free kick into the box when Shijiazhuang defender Dankler handled the ball, prompting the referee to immediately award a penalty. Just as the home fans erupted in celebration, VAR intervened, indicating an error in the call. After reviewing the footage, the referee overturned the penalty decision. Ultimately, the 0-0 scoreline held until the final whistle.

Both legs ended scoreless

This match marked the second encounter between the two sides this season, with Tongliang Long again failing to score, gaining no advantage at either home or away. After the coaching change, Tongliang Long abandoned high pressing in favor of a compact defensive system combined with quick counterattacks. Although they successfully limited Shijiazhuang Kungfu’s counterattack efficiency, their own 16 shots with only two on target exposed the persistent problem of low attacking efficiency.

In another simultaneous “remote duel,” Guangzhou Leopard snatched a last-minute equalizer against Shaanxi United. Tongliang Long’s single point at home is still a positive outcome because after this round, Liaoning Ironmen have already secured promotion early, leaving the final promotion spot locked in a two-way battle between Tongliang Long and Guangzhou Leopard. Before this round, Tongliang Long led Guangzhou Leopard by 2 points, giving them a margin for one draw “error.” If Guangzhou Leopard had won this round while Tongliang Long only earned one point, it would have effectively used up this safety net early, increasing pressure for Tongliang Long in the next round. Fortunately, both promotion contenders drew this round, allowing Tongliang Long to maintain their 2-point lead over Guangzhou Leopard.

After the match, Zhang Wailong stated: “Through each game, we can feel the players’ significant progress and see greater hope for the future. Next, we will prepare well for the upcoming home match, hoping to secure 3 points at home.” For Tongliang Long, the initiative in the promotion race remains in their hands, still holding the buffer of one draw. However, their next opponent Suzhou Dongwu is also competitive, so they must neither underestimate nor become overly anxious.