Reporter Wang Wei reports June 19 was a particularly meaningful evening for Shenzhen New Peng City's newly appointed head coach Robbie Nielsen. During the fourth round of the 2026 Chinese FA Cup's "Shenzhen Derby," Nielsen, who had been in charge for just 10 days, marked his official coaching debut. Shenzhen New Peng City beat their local rivals Shenzhen Youngsters 3-1, claiming a derby win. The Scottish manager, who turned 46 that same day, celebrated his birthday with a victory. This opening success helped the team advance to the next round of the FA Cup and also boosted morale ahead of their first second-half-season match on June 27, when they host the Chinese Super League leaders, Chengdu Rongcheng.

A Debut Win Worth Celebrating

Before the match, Nielsen talked about the brief 10-day adjustment period, saying that only after getting close to the players did he truly understand the team's real condition: "Watching games online and communicating on the training ground are completely different. The 10 days allowed me to get to know every player, and we were fully prepared for the derby."

For this Shenzhen derby, Nielsen fielded a balanced starting lineup: Peng Peng in goal; a defensive line of Xuan Zhijian, Hu Ruibao, new foreign center-back Gabriel, and Yang Yiming; Zhou Dingyang and Zhang Xiaobin as double defensive midfielders to solidify the backline; Jiang Zhipeng and Owusu on the wings; Dai Weijun orchestrating attacks from the middle; and Wesley as the lone striker. In the second half, four substitutes—Yao Junsheng, Li Long, Tian Yifan, and Xia Dalong—came on.

In the first half, New Peng City firmly controlled the game, continually creating threats in attack. In the 11th minute, a corner kick caused chaos in the box, and Du Galic, a former New Peng City player, scored an own goal to break the deadlock. Seven minutes later, Xuan Zhijian fired a quality long-range shot into the net, extending the lead to 2-0. In the 40th minute, New Peng City earned a penalty, and Owusu calmly converted to make it 3-0 at halftime—Nielsen's tactical plan was executed perfectly. In the 76th minute, Shenzhen Youngsters were awarded a penalty; Garita's shot was saved by Peng Peng, but he quickly followed up to score, pulling one back. The match ended 3-1, securing the derby victory for Shenzhen New Peng City and booking their place in the next FA Cup round.

Judging by the starting lineup and substitutes in this match, compared to before the coaching change, Nielsen made significant adjustments to the defensive personnel and tactical requirements. He used the combination of Xuan Zhijian, Hu Ruibao, Gabriel, and Yang Yiming, which made the defense more solid—though this might also be related to the opponent being a China League One side.

After the match, Nielsen said the team performed better in the first half, while the opponent adjusted well and played better in the second half. The goal advantage built in the first half helped New Peng City hold on to the win. Nielsen praised the players' effort and fighting spirit, and also commended the passionate atmosphere created by the fans: "This was my first official game in China, and the support from the fans left a deep impression on me. This victory is worth celebrating, but it's only the beginning of my coaching journey. The team still has many details to improve."

Nielsen praised the debut performance of new center-back Gabriel, saying he effectively strengthened the defense. When asked about the summer transfer window plans, he expressed hope that the team's overall strength would improve after the window closes, but noted that finding suitable players better than the existing squad is challenging. The club is still evaluating multiple domestic and foreign players, with room for reinforcement in several positions.

Regarding Zhang Yujie, who has been sidelined for a long time, Nielsen revealed that his recovery is going well. He was originally considered for a starting spot in this match, but after weighing the high intensity of the game, Nielsen opted for the more experienced Yang Yiming. He believes Zhang Yujie will soon get his chance to play.

Facing the League Leader, a Test of Coaching Ability

A birthday win and a successful debut marked a good start for Nielsen as Shenzhen New Peng City's head coach. However, a bigger test lies just ahead. On the evening of June 27, Shenzhen New Peng City will host the CSL leaders, Chengdu Rongcheng, at home. This season, Chengdu Rongcheng has consistently held the top spot in the standings, boasting arguably the best offense and defense in the league and being the strongest title contender. This match will fully evaluate Nielsen's transformation efforts over the past ten-plus days and is a crucial battle for New Peng City to earn points and climb the league table in the second half of the season. In their historical head-to-head record, New Peng City has never won, with one draw and four losses. Notably, in the first meeting this season, New Peng City suffered a heavy 5-1 away defeat—can Nielsen's debut as head coach bring a "new manager bounce"? That is a key storyline for this match.

Through the FA Cup Shenzhen derby, Nielsen said he has identified specific issues that emerged in actual play, such as unstable ball possession under pressure and poor rhythm management in the second half. He indicated that targeted training would focus on midfield resilience and in-game tactical adjustments in the coming days.

From the FA Cup derby to the home clash against the CSL top team, Nielsen has a week to address weaknesses and refine the lineup. He expressed confidence that the team can deliver a strong performance in the crucial match against Chengdu Rongcheng.