Shenzhen New Peng City secures first win, Dai Weijun returns to the pitch after 497 days

Reported by Wang Wei On the evening of March 14, Shenzhen New Peng City hosted its first home match of the 2026 Chinese Super League season at Shenzhen Stadium, facing Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. Witnessed by 31,391 spectators on site, Shenzhen New Peng City defeated Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 1-0 with Wesley scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, claiming their first victory of the season. This match allowed the New Peng City team to shed the pressure from their previous away game where they suffered a heavy defeat against Chengdu Rongcheng. New signing Dai Weijun also returned to the pitch after recovering from injury after 497 days. Additionally, before the match, the New Peng City club officially unveiled its mascot—Peng Peng. As the first club official mascot in the Chinese Super League created with a robot as the core image, Peng Peng, with its unique sense of technology and futuristic vibe, has become a new emblem for Shenzhen New Peng City.

For this match, Shenzhen New Peng City made four changes to the starting lineup compared to the first round of the Chinese Super League, with center-back Yang Yiming, midfielders Xuan Zhijian and Karlchev, and winger Owusu starting. Jiang Zhipeng, who received a red card in the 18th minute of the first league round, was suspended for this match, while foreign player Ademi was sidelined due to injury.

In the previous league match, the team received a red card too early and played with one player less, which left the players on the field unprepared for a while. After the match, head coach Chen Tao comforted and encouraged Jiang Zhipeng. Chen Tao stated that from his perspective and understanding of Jiang Zhipeng, the player's action was definitely not intentional, and he would not blame the player for it, still recognizing Jiang Zhipeng's overall performance on the field. "This red card should be an accident for him, and I still unconditionally trust him."

Although Chen Tao objectively protected captain Jiang Zhipeng, the 1-5 defeat still impacted the players psychologically. Therefore, before the match against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Chen Tao continued to provide psychological guidance to the players. "Our main work this past week was to help the players mentally shed their burdens, quickly move on from the previous loss, and adjust the offensive and defensive systems. Regardless, the impact of the last defeat on us was quite significant, so I have been emphasizing to the players whether we can learn from shame and become courageous. Rather than regretting the previous performance, it's better to prepare well for the home match," head coach Chen Tao said.

To secure a victory against Jinmen Tiger at home, Chen Tao devised detailed tactical arrangements before the match and communicated adjustments with the players during halftime based on the actual situation of the first half. "This past week we focused on analyzing the opponent's playing characteristics. In the opening phase of the first half, the players were not very familiar with the opponent's tactics. During halftime, we emphasized the pressing system and movement patterns on the field. After adapting through the half, we performed better in the second half. I also stressed to the players that to control victory in a match, defense must be prioritized first. Today we created many opportunities, largely because our defense was very good," Chen Tao said.

Before the league started, the New Peng City team's reinforcements in the defensive line were not substantial, and during winter training, there was an issue of being 'top-heavy' between the front and back lines. Chen Tao clearly understood that if the weak point in defense could be addressed, the team's performance would improve. "This match showed the team's unyielding spirit, everyone gave their full effort. This kind of fighting spirit, striving for every ball, brought the team a good result," Chen Tao stated.

In the first half against Jinmen Tiger, the New Peng City team was once passive, with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger having superior ball possession, but in the second half, New Peng City gradually controlled the match rhythm. In the 83rd minute, foreign player Wesley seized an opportunity through relentless effort and scored against Jinmen Tiger.

In the third league round, New Peng City will play away against Qingdao West Coast, and in past encounters, the New Peng City team has not defeated this opponent. Chen Tao told the reporter: "Actually, preparation for the next match has started now. I will continue analyzing the opponent, including their first and second round matches, gather detailed information, and devise targeted tactics. Through this week's training, we aim to achieve something in the match against West Coast."

During the winter training period this season, new signing Dai Weijun was troubled by injury. In the second round of the Chinese Super League, he officially returned to the pitch, giving Chen Tao more options in midfield lineup arrangements.

Before this league round's pre-match press conference, Chen Tao brought Dai Weijun along, which led external observers to judge that Dai Weijun had recovered and was fit to play. Before the match, Dai Weijun also recalled his previous experiences playing in Shenzhen: "My last appearance was also representing Shenzhen team, followed by a period of injury, so I thank the club and Coach Chen for their trust, giving me the chance to prove myself again, and also thank the Shenzhen fans for their encouragement."

In the 66th minute of the match, Shenzhen New Peng City made a crucial substitution adjustment, with Dai Weijun replacing Xiahezati, marking his return to official competition after 497 days and his professional league debut after joining Shenzhen New Peng City. Wearing the number 10 jersey, he quickly adapted to the match rhythm after entering, with delicate ball control and precise passing, making New Peng City's offensive organization more layered in the second half. In the 73rd minute, Dai Weijun delivered a high-quality cross from the left flank, accurately finding Wesley in the penalty area, whose header hit the post. In the 80th minute, he completed a threatening long-range shot near the penalty area, continuing to pressure Tianjin Jinmen Tiger's defense. Although his playing time was limited, Dai Weijun's midfield organization, forward passing, and ball-carrying advancement effectively enhanced Shenzhen New Peng City's midfield control, laying the foundation for the team's final winning goal.

After the match, Dai Weijun said: "Having been away from the league pitch for over a year, I am gradually regaining my match feel, hoping to deliver better performances in upcoming matches. After the last round, everyone was dissatisfied. Through hard training and mental adjustment, everyone gave their full effort in this match, Wesley even fought until cramping. I believe this victory is well deserved."