At 8 pm on August 4th, Nantong Zhiyun will host Henan FC in the 21st round of the Chinese Super League at the Rugao Olympic Sports Center.
The two teams are in completely different situations. Nantong Zhiyun is currently bottom of the table, with a four-point gap to the safety line, facing a desperate fight for survival. At the pre-match press conference, Nantong head coach and player Rosa emphasized that the situation is extremely critical and every upcoming match is a must-win.
Nantong has been in poor form lately, suffering five consecutive defeats across all competitions. This includes a cup game where they fielded a full substitute team and were eliminated, followed by four league losses to Chengdu Rongcheng, Meizhou Hakka, Shandong Taishan, and Shanghai SIPG. Notably, in the last round, Nantong suffered a humiliating 1-8 away defeat to Shanghai SIPG, setting a new record for the season in terms of goals scored and conceded in a single match, significantly affecting team morale.
In contrast, Henan FC is currently on a good run, having beaten Zhejiang and Shandong in their last two matches. In the past seven rounds, they have achieved a record of 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. This improvement can be attributed to their recent emphasis on defense, showing significant progress compared to their performance in the spring.
This recent winning streak has propelled Henan FC from the relegation zone to the middle of the league table, now with a comfortable nine-point cushion over the drop zone. In the pre-match press conference, Head Coach Nan Jiyi highlighted the excellent team spirit fostered by their recent victories, aiming to maintain this momentum. However, he repeatedly emphasized the need to avoid underestimating their opponents despite their low position on the table. Henan FC should focus on defense and be prepared for a tough battle.
In terms of head-to-head records, the two teams have faced each other three times in the past year, with Nantong Zhiyun securing a 1-0 victory at home and drawing both away matches 1-1, giving them a slight advantage. Henan media have identified “changing history and avenging past losses” as a key motivation for this match.
Regarding key players to watch, Nantong media have highlighted Zheng Haoqian for the home team. While Nantong’s recent poor form has led to a lack of fighting spirit among many players, Zheng Haoqian has remained committed, scoring the lone goal in their 1-8 defeat last round. For Henan FC, the spotlight will be on goalkeeper Wang Guoming. Since returning to the first team from the reserves, he has started six times for Henan, achieving four clean sheets and conceding only two goals, one of which was from a penalty.
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