The Guangzhou-Foshan Derby: Promotion Dreams vs. Relegation Battles

Wang Wei reports Reported by Wang Wei. On the evening of August 1, the 17th round of the China League One saw another Guangdong Derby, as Guangzhou Leopards faced Foshan Lions at Yuexiushan Stadium. The league leaders, aiming for promotion, took on a team deep in relegation trouble. The game finished 1-1, stopping Guangzhou Leopards' consecutive wins and ending Foshan Lions' six-match losing streak. It is understood that Foshan Lions, who had changed their coach before this round, are in talks with Li Yao, and Li Yao's team watched the match from the stands.

Before the Guangzhou-Foshan Derby, Guangzhou Leopards held a ceremony to honor Nikang for reaching 600 career appearances and Liu Bin for completing 100 matches in all professional club competitions. Club chairman Deng Lei presented commemorative jerseys to the two players, hoping they would maintain their fighting spirit and continue contributing to the team.

Reflecting on his career milestone, Nikang said with emotion: "I am very happy to achieve this with Guangzhou Leopards. Over the past 10 years, I have given a lot and received a lot. I want to thank the Guangzhou fans and the club for their support."

As provincial rivals, the two teams have met three times in history, with Guangzhou Leopards winning all three, though not easily. In the first encounter this season, Guangzhou Leopards narrowly won 3-2 away. In this match, Guangzhou Leopards controlled the first half, constantly putting pressure on the opponent's defense. However, it was not until the 45th minute that Xiao Kun struck a powerful long-range shot from outside the box, breaking the deadlock and giving his team a 1-0 lead at halftime. After the break, Foshan Lions, desperate for points to stop their slide, launched a fierce counterattack, posing a serious threat with their defensive transitions. In the 75th minute, Foshan Lions besieged Guangzhou Leopards' goal, and Nicholas equalized with a header. After that, Guangzhou Leopards pushed hard but failed to score again, leaving the final score at 1-1.

After the match, Guangzhou Leopards head coach Feng Feng said: "It was a fiercely contested game. We lacked patience after taking the lead and made too many unnecessary mistakes, allowing the opponent to equalize. That's a pity. I want to thank the fans who came to Yuexiushan Stadium in the rain for their support." When speaking about the result, Feng Feng made it clear that the team's promotion goal would not waver: "This draw will not shake our determination. Every game is tough, and the players are under a lot of pressure. We are doing our best to adjust their state in all aspects."

Foreign player Nikang also stated that the draw would not disrupt the team's rhythm in the title race and promotion push: "Our team is fully committed to playing every game well for promotion and victory. This draw will not affect our resolve. Our goal this season is definitely to win the league and get promoted. It's normal to encounter difficulties, and every player has given their all. Next week, we need to train hard and show the results of our efforts in the next game."

In the next round (August 9), Guangzhou Leopards will face a tough match at home against Guangxi Hengchen. Guangxi Hengchen, a new team in the China League One, has been the dark horse of the season. After a 4-2 away win over Ningbo, they have remained unbeaten in 11 league matches and currently sit third in the standings with 29 points. In the first meeting, Guangzhou Leopards lost 0-1 away to Guangxi Hengchen, suffering their first loss of the season. Facing this strong opponent, Nikang said firmly: "No game is easy for us. We will learn from our mistakes in this match and look forward to a good performance in the next one."

Foshan Lions have had a difficult season. Before the match against Guangzhou Leopards, they had suffered six consecutive defeats and ten games without a win, putting them under immense relegation pressure. Under that pressure, the club initiated a coaching staff adjustment, with former head coach Zhang Chiming leaving. Since the new coaching team had not yet arrived, for the entire week before this round, all training and tactical preparation for Foshan Lions were handled solely by acting head coach Jiang Hai.

Playing away against Guangzhou Leopards, Foshan Lions were not expected to get a result, but Jiang Hai boldly used young players, and with their determination, they managed to hold the league leaders to a draw at Yuexiushan, earning a very valuable point.

After the match, Jiang Hai said emotionally: "I held on alone for a week. Facing Guangzhou Leopards, if you asked ten people before the game, they would all say we were sure to lose. But that's football. I want to thank the players for fully executing the coach's tactical plan. It was really hard for us to take a point from Yuexiushan Stadium. Not just us, many teams find it difficult to take a point here!"

Foshan Lions currently have 11 points and have fallen into the relegation zone. Facing the severe situation, Jiang Hai firmly stated the goal of continuing to fight for points: "It doesn't matter who our opponent is; the result of each game is very important to us. Now, regardless of whether the opponent is ranked first or last, and whether we are at home or away, we have to fight for points. We need to develop appropriate tactics, and I believe we can achieve our season goal in the end."

It is reported that progress has been made in finding a new head coach for Foshan Lions. Li Yao, a former member of the Liaoning Tigers, watched the game live at Yuexiushan Stadium on the evening of August 1. He is currently in final negotiations with the Foshan Lions club over details. If everything goes smoothly, Li Yao will take over as the Lions' head coach this week. It is also learned that Foshan Lions' next plan is to move back to Dongguan after the season ends if Li Yao can lead the team to safety.