A crucial victory worth 6 points! Henan team ends their six-match winless streak.

Reporter Lu Mi reports. By knocking out Shenhua in the FA Cup, the Henan team received accolades and newfound confidence. Yet, in the Super League, they had gone six matches without a win, hovering close to the relegation zone, causing significant stress for the whole squad. The game against Xinpengcheng was a critical six-point match, and they eventually secured a 4-1 victory, rediscovering the joy of winning.

In this match, Henan utilized Zhou Yuande to replace the suspended Maidana; clashes among relegation competitors never require testing the waters. The Henan team quickly found their rhythm, and just a minute into the game, Cardoso made his first touch, exploiting the opponent's advance, and combined brilliantly with Achimpen to penetrate Xinpengcheng's defense. However, after VAR review, the referee ruled the goal offside. Undeterred, Henan regrouped swiftly; Achimpen crossed from the left, and Cardoso, charging in from the middle, headed the ball into the net, only to have it disallowed again after VAR review.

Within 10 minutes, two goals were disallowed, affecting the mindset of the Henan players. However, they had no time to dwell on it as there was still plenty of time left in the match.

“Right from the start, we had two goals disallowed, but we didn't give up. Instead, we lifted our spirits and aimed to score again, attacking relentlessly, and the players fully executed my tactical instructions and discipline.”

In the first half, the Henan team achieved 70.4% possession, which led to Xinpengcheng receiving three yellow cards. Even more pleasing for the team was the arrival of their third goal—Zhong Yihao scored, and this time it stood.

Although Xinpengcheng set up with five defenders, their flanks were weak, and the midfield did not provide adequate protection for the defense. Almost all second balls were claimed by Henan, allowing them to create shooting opportunities just outside the penalty area.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Achimpen took advantage of a significant gap in Xinpengcheng's defense to score twice, compensating for Cardoso's earlier missed chances.

With a three-goal lead, Henan made adjustments, resulting in substitute Yang Yilin scoring to make it 4-0, completely overwhelming Xinpengcheng, and Henan secured their largest victory margin of the season.

Compared to the first encounter between the two teams, Henan's attacking strategy was much clearer—Xinpengcheng's Jiang Zhipeng was injured and unable to play, while Yang Yiming took up the right wing position. Henan exploited Achimpen's speed to target his back, coupled with timely support from the middle, allowing them to capitalize on the opportunities they needed to seize.

“This is the victory I wanted,” Ramos said, visibly satisfied after the match. However, he regretted that the team relaxed a bit at the end, failing to keep a clean sheet, as Wesley scored for Xinpengcheng. “In this match, we played very proactively, secured three points, and our ranking improved, making the team very happy,” Ramos added.

Ending their six-match winless streak in the Super League, Henan jumped from thirteenth to twelfth place. Although the climb in ranking took some time, it is evident that Henan is on the right track. After the match, the fans at the stadium did not leave immediately but instead joined in a sing-along with the music, a scene that has not occurred in a long time.

“Moving forward, we will continue to work hard to provide exciting matches for all our fans. Every match we play is for them, and we aim to deliver more creative and attacking football,” Ramos stated.