League Opening Victory, Guoan Remains Low-key – The Beijing-Shandong Match is the Real Test!

Special Contribution/Song Ci On the evening of March 8th, Beijing Guoan's away match against Wuhan Three Towns became the final game of the first round of the Chinese Super League. Despite several players being injured, Guoan secured a 2-0 victory with goals from Fabio and Zhang Yuning, achieving an opening win for the 2026 league season. This victory not only extended Guoan's positive momentum after winning the Super Cup, marking three consecutive seasons with a 2-0 first-round win, but also earned coach Montgomery renewed recognition from Beijing fans due to the impressive debut of 18-year-old Deng Jiefu, the steady performance of veteran Wang Gang, and the perfect coexistence of the dual forwards. However, despite two consecutive wins, Guoan Club remains very low-key. The club clearly understands that the upcoming matches against Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua are the real tests.

In the away match against Wuhan Three Towns, Guoan's defense faced a personnel crisis, with players like Da Wan, Li Lei, and Ru Zinan absent due to injuries. With the starting left and right fullbacks from the Super Cup unavailable, coach Montgomery decisively deployed "one veteran and one youngster": left-back Deng Jiefu, only 18 years old, and right-back Wang Gang, 37 years old. Neither disappointed the coach, performing excellently, and their outstanding play was one of the key factors in Guoan's victory.

Wearing the No. 47 jersey, Deng Jiefu responded to the coaching staff's trust with a nearly flawless performance. This young player, making his first CSL appearance, displayed maturity beyond his age. Defensively, he executed crucial interceptions and clearances, showing excellent one-on-one duel success rates and repeatedly thwarting Three Towns' wing attacks. Offensively, he strictly followed tactical instructions, frequently making overlapping runs from deep to deliver threatening crosses, never faltering under high-intensity pressure.

After the match, Deng Jiefu rated his debut a 7 out of 10. He admitted feeling nervous at first when representing Guoan but gradually relaxed. He was very happy to contribute to the away win with his teammates and thanked the coach for his trust. He revealed that the frequent overlapping runs were a specific pre-match instruction from the coach, and the encouragement and support from teammates before the game made him feel the warmth of the team. This 18-year-old talent proved his potential with this debut, injecting fresh energy into Guoan's defense.

Complementing Deng Jiefu's impressive performance was veteran Wang Gang's stabilizing, anchor-like display. As a seasoned wing player who renewed his contract, Wang Gang remained highly effective on the right flank. His experience not only compensated for defensive shortcomings but also safeguarded the team at critical moments. Both Guoan's goals in this match were directly linked to Wang Gang: the first goal came from his overlapping run and cross from the byline, and the second goal resulted from his aggressive challenge, creating an opportunity for Zhang Yuning to score into an empty net. Foreign player Fabio commented after the match: "My Gang哥 (Brother Gang) is always my Gang哥. He consistently sets an example in the team, trains diligently and hard, and is always our model."

Guoan's tactical execution in this match was also highly effective, applying front-line pressure from the start. This efficient tactical implementation not only effectively restricted Three Towns' offensive organization but also created numerous counter-attacking opportunities. The partnership of dual forwards Zhang Yuning and Fabio was particularly brilliant, alleviating external concerns about the coexistence of two center forwards. After the match, Montgomery expressed satisfaction with the team's performance: "The players who appeared today demonstrated high professional standards. Deng Jiefu performed exceptionally well; it's remarkable for a 19-year-old (turning 19 in June) to display such composure on the field."

A convincing away win, coupled with the earlier Super Cup victory, suggests Guoan's new season is off to a smooth start. However, after two consecutive wins, Guoan will face its real test—an away match against Shandong Taishan next round, followed by a match against Shanghai Shenhua. Regarding this, the club maintains a very calm and clear-headed stance, urging the team to avoid complacency after consecutive wins and to guard against any underestimation of opponents. They emphasize focusing on one match at a time, concentrating on the immediate opponent, and progressing steadily step by step.

Last season, Guoan suffered a heavy defeat away to Shandong Taishan, an experience that remains deeply memorable. However, both teams' squads, tactics, and form have significantly changed now. The club states that they should not dwell on last year's loss nor speak of "revenge," absolutely avoiding any mindset that affects them before the match. The team must acknowledge Shandong Taishan's strength, especially their energy when playing at home. This will undoubtedly be a tough battle, requiring 100% focus from the team.

In the CSL opener, Guoan's key midfield foreign player Da Wan was absent. It is understood that the team hopes Da Wan can recover properly and strive to be available for the match against Taishan. Guoan is very cautious this year regarding internal injuries, unwilling to risk players unnecessarily, and also strictly confidential about injury situations. For instance, Lin Liangming's rapid recovery surprised outsiders. These factors prove Guoan is refining all preparatory work meticulously.

For Beijing Guoan, the away victory over Wuhan Three Towns successfully reflected the squad's composition, tactics, and mental attitude. The upcoming Beijing-Shandong clash presents a severe test of the team's mentality and resilience. Only by maintaining an "fight every match" attitude and fully respecting each opponent can they advance more steadily in the long league competition.