Guoan remains unbeaten in nine games across two competitions, climbing into the top three of the league standings.

Special correspondent / Song Ci In the 22nd round of the Chinese Super League, Beijing Guoan hosted Shenzhen Xinpengcheng at home. Though long troubled by a wave of injuries, the team has bounced back impressively after the league break, maintaining an unbeaten run to keep their ranking steady. They eventually crushed their opponents 4-0, extending their unbeaten streak across both the league and cup competitions to nine matches. After this victory, Guoan has 29 points and temporarily moved up to third place in the league.

This season, Guoan has faced a far more severe injury crisis than in previous years, with key players falling in multiple positions. Defender Spajić was sidelined for a long time, and after finally returning and delivering standout performances, he suffered a harsh tackle injury in the match before facing Shenzhen. Additionally, several other players on the team have varying degrees of injuries. Montgomery acknowledged that under a packed schedule, injuries are an unavoidable objective challenge in professional football, and the continuous absence of injured players has put enormous pressure on the team's lineup selection.

However, amid the difficulties, there is also good news. Two key players, Zhang Xizhe and Serginho, have returned from injury and performed well in the previous round, greatly filling the gap in midfield. Zhang Xizhe admitted in the pre-match press conference that his physical condition has only recovered to 80-90% and is not yet at his personal best, but he is fully prepared to give his all in the game. Facing the reality of a depleted squad, the coaching staff took a different perspective on the crisis: the absence of starters is precisely a golden opportunity for rotation players and young talents to prove themselves. Everyone is on standby in training, waiting for their chance to play.

Once the match kicked off, Guoan fully executed their pre-game plan. In the first half, the team maintained high-intensity pressing. Fabio's close-range header hit the crossbar, and Zhang Yuning followed up with a sharp rebound to break the deadlock. Later, Da Wan seized an opportunity to score with a header, sending Guoan into halftime with a two-goal lead. After the break, the hosts continued their attacking momentum. Wesley's shot struck the post, creating a threat, and Zhang Yuning provided a precise assist for Da Wan to score his second of the game, completing a brace. Near the end, Fabio slotted home to seal the victory. The four goals came in layers, fully showcasing the team's preparation for multi-point attacks. Throughout the match, Guoan tightly restricted the opponent's offense, creating numerous scoring chances while keeping a clean sheet.

After 90 minutes of fierce battle, a home victory with four goals and a clean sheet at Workers' Stadium left players of different roles deeply moved. From the domestic striker core, the foreign attacking force, to the young debutant on the CSL stage, the insights from these three perspectives together formed the complete code to Guoan's triumph.

The player who opened the door to victory in this match was Zhang Yuning. In the post-match interview, Zhang Yuning did not take the credit for himself but attributed the goal to the team's daily training and磨合. The high-pressure pressing tactic was something the coaching staff had repeatedly drilled in practice, and every goal on the field was the result of team chemistry. This season, the league campaign is long, and whether facing top-ranked strong teams or weaker opponents, the whole team has maintained the same level of focus. This brotherhood in unity is the key to the team's climb out of the trough and consistent point accumulation.

The foreign player Da Wan, who was involved in three goals, was another major contributor to this big win. When asked about the main reason for turning from negative points at the start of the season to seven unbeaten league matches, Da Wan said frankly: "I think the most important thing is the team's strength. At the beginning, we faced many difficulties, and we still have many injured players now, but everyone helps each other—that's the charm of the team." This strength carried the team through the toughest period. The 4-0 victory and the current nine-game unbeaten run across both competitions are the fruits of everyone's joint efforts.

Jiang Zicheng, a youth academy player under 19, made his first official CSL appearance. This local boy, who grew up immersed in the Workers' Stadium environment, was still unable to contain his excitement after the match. The young lad admitted that he felt intense nervousness in the opening stage and made several small mistakes, but as the game progressed, he gradually loosened up and adapted to the intensity of the CSL. He also talked about his deficiencies in handling the ball and positioning on the field. However, just stepping onto the Workers' Stadium pitch has already fulfilled a short-term goal. His next aim is to score his first CSL goal as soon as possible and contribute more to Guoan.

At the post-match press conference, Montgomery was all smiles, praising the team's perfect performance despite the injury-ridden situation. He acknowledged that the team is still in a predicament of personnel shortages, with many core players unable to feature, and the huge gap in the squad is an objective reality. But crises also breed opportunities. The absence of starters has given rotation players and youth academy talents a stage to showcase themselves. Jiang Zicheng successfully completing his CSL debut is a direct manifestation of the club's long-term commitment to youth development and cultivating local young players.

Regarding forward Fabio's goal, Montgomery reviewed the game from both offensive and defensive ends: Before the match, the team devised a tight defensive strategy against Shenzhen Xinpengcheng's strong attacking lineup, limiting their offensive space throughout the game and almost cutting off their effective scoring routes. On the offensive side, the team operated smoothly, creating numerous scoring opportunities and ultimately securing the three points. The coach also explained the logic behind using set-piece specialist Deng Jiefu and debutant Jiang Zicheng, stating that the club has long prioritized youth talent development. They will continue to give young players actual game experience, allowing them to build mental toughness and refine their skills in official matches, helping them accelerate their growth and transformation.

Asked about the team's improved form and unbeaten run since the break, Montgomery said that the whole team has long put aside all the bumps and setbacks from the start of the season and does not dwell on past losses. "What happened before won't affect my judgment of this team. Now, after considerable effort, we have achieved some results. But we cannot let up yet, because every day is a new challenge for us, and everyone is working tirelessly. Next, the team needs to balance the Chinese Super League, the FA Cup, and the AFC Champions League across three fronts. Competing on three fronts is not easy. We still have to stay grounded and take it step by step to play the upcoming matches well."