Reported by Wang Wei and intern Cao Si On the afternoon of November 1st, a highlight match of the 29th round of China League One was held at Qingdao Tiantai Stadium. Guangzhou Leopards secured a 4-2 away victory over the already relegated Qingdao Red Lions, reaching a total of 57 points. Over the last 10 rounds, Guangzhou Leopards have recorded 8 wins and 2 draws, collecting 26 points and extending their "remote showdown" with Chongqing Tongliang Long to the last round.

The final promotion showdown scenario is: if Chongqing Tongliang Long wins away against Shanghai Jiading Huilong, Tongliang Long will secure promotion; if Tongliang Long fails to win, and Guangzhou Leopards defeat Nantong Zhiyun at home, Guangzhou Leopards will be promoted.

Mighty Nikon, double-digit stats

Facing the already relegated Qingdao Red Lions away, Guangzhou Leopards launched an aggressive attack from the start. Just 43 seconds into the match, Guangzhou Leopards broke the deadlock: Xiadalong delivered an accurate long pass to Nikon on the right flank, and the Brazilian struck a volley from a tight angle before the ball hit the ground, putting Guangzhou Leopards ahead 1-0. In the 23rd minute, Nikon shone again by dribbling past two defenders on the right side and crossing to Rosa in the center of the box, who finished to extend the lead to 2-0. Five minutes into the second half, Shang Yin assisted Xiadalong’s header goal, making it 3-0. At the 57th minute, Nikon’s outside-foot diagonal pass set up substitute Carlos, who scored a long-range shot from the arc, increasing the score to 4-0. Qingdao Red Lions later scored twice, but Guangzhou Leopards ultimately won 4-2 away.

After the match, Nikon said: "Overall, we played well. Although the opponents scored twice to come back, the most important thing is that we secured the win and kept our promotion hopes alive." Guangzhou Leopards’ interim coach Feng Feng told reporters: "We scored within the first minute, which gave us a good start and fulfilled our pre-match plan. All three foreign players scored in this game, and Xiadalong also found the net. Offensively, I think we performed well. Nikon, Rosa, and Carlos have consistently performed strongly. Carlos, who returned from injury, scored today, showing he is improving. Nikon contributed both a goal and an assist, reaching double digits in both (10 goals and 10 assists). Overall, I am satisfied with the whole team's performance. At least we are now level on points with Chongqing, leaving the final suspense until the last moment."

Feng Feng reflects before the decisive battle

After this round, the promotion race in China League One has become extremely dramatic. While Guangzhou Leopards won big away, Chongqing Tongliang Long failed to win at home, leaving both teams tied on points before the final round. In their head-to-head matches, Guangzhou Leopards lost 1-5 at home in the first leg but won 1-0 away in the second. According to league rules, if points are tied, the ranking is decided by head-to-head points, goal difference, and goals scored, so Tongliang Long leads due to better head-to-head results. This means Guangzhou Leopards must not only defeat Nantong Zhiyun in the last round but also hope Tongliang Long does not win against Shanghai Jiading Huilong.

Feng Feng admitted: "Besides being fully prepared tactically and technically for the last round, mental readiness is crucial because the situation on the field can change rapidly. Since it has come down to the final 'final,' we must hold on tightly and give our all in this last battle."

Feng Feng said: "For the last match, I hope the team performs well. We must focus on ourselves and play our game properly. Both teams will surely feel pressure in this situation. Such matches are a valuable experience for both coaches and players."
Feng Feng took over as Guangzhou Leopards’ interim coach on August 2nd before the away match against Liaoning Ironmen, leading the team to 27 points in 12 matches. Before the last 10 rounds, Guangzhou Leopards trailed Chongqing Tongliang Long by 12 points, but they have caught up to equal points before the final round by achieving 8 wins and 2 draws in those 10 matches.

Discussing the changes in Guangzhou Leopards during this period, Feng Feng considered the away match against Liaoning Ironmen as a key game and the away win over Chongqing Tongliang Long as a turning point. "When I started coaching, I set three goals for the players: first, to prioritize team spirit above all; second, to have fighting spirit and determination to battle hard; third, to control the game—I believe these players have that ability. The team atmosphere is very good now."

Regarding erasing the 12-point gap with Tongliang Long in 10 rounds, Feng Feng said this pursuit has earned Guangzhou Leopards respect for their fighting spirit. "This fighting spirit and determination to catch up is exactly what the club and coaching staff want to see. As long as there is even a slight chance, we will never give up."

Feng Feng said: "People often say I’m from Foshan, but my ancestral home is Shunde. I was born and raised in Guangzhou, attended Shuqian Road Primary School in the old Dongshan District (now Yuexiu District), and joined the Bayi team in fourth grade. As a native Guangzhou person coaching this Guangzhou team, it is both an honor and a responsibility. I hope to lead Guangzhou Leopards to greater success."

Home final showdown: balancing offense and defense

On the afternoon of November 8th (this Saturday), the last round of this China League One season will take place, with Guangzhou Leopards hosting Nantong Zhiyun. Although Nantong Zhiyun currently ranks seventh, their strength should not be underestimated. They have scored 43 goals in the first 29 rounds, ranking fourth in the league, showing strong firepower. Based on Nantong Zhiyun’s recent tactical style, Guangzhou Leopards’ flank defense will be a key target. Additionally, Nantong Zhiyun has proven tough in big matches, gaining points against top teams like Liaoning Ironmen (1 draw, 1 loss) and Chongqing Tongliang Long (1 win, 1 loss).

For Guangzhou Leopards, the key in the final round is how to balance attack and defense. On one hand, the team needs to rely on attacking players like Nikon and Rosa to score more goals; on the other hand, defensive improvements are necessary to avoid painful lessons like conceding two quick goals to Qingdao Red Lions and losing at home to Guangxi Pingguo this round.