Written by/Zuo Rui In August, Yukun played five games, winning once, drawing once, and losing three times, conceding a total of 22 goals. The most devastating loss was the 0-7 defeat at Workers' Stadium in the FA Cup, followed by a 1-5 home loss to Chengdu Rongcheng in the league. While losing at home and by big scores was not surprising, the cluster of heavy defeats in such a short timeframe has understandably alarmed both fans and the club.

Challenges Facing the Newly Promoted Team

During the double fixtures last week, faced with unfavorable referee decisions and conceding the first goal, both the players on the field and the bench reacted strongly. It seemed the team’s desire to win had nearly turned into anxiety.

On that night at Workers' Stadium, Burke believed Fabio fouled him before scoring, so he sought a red card against Fabio. This behavior caused the team to fall behind by three goals in the first half and led to a complete collapse in the second half. After the match, Burke was handed a three-game suspension, meaning Yukun could not field their full-strength squad in three of the remaining nine league games. The day after the FA Cup humiliation, the club publicly apologized to fans and fined Burke 100,000 yuan, stating his "irrational actions severely damaged the club’s interests and image."

In the 10th minute of the home league match against Rongcheng, Nene was fouled after a pass and fell to the ground while the home team held possession and had advanced into the opponent’s half. Referee He Kai signaled for play to continue under the advantage rule. However, possession quickly switched, and the visitors counterattacked. Despite players and coaches urging the referee to stop play, Wei Shihao’s shot hit the post, and Zhou Dingyang scored on the rebound. The referee’s failure to respond promptly to the situation after the advantage rule was nullified sparked dissatisfaction among Yunnan fans.

If the 1-5 loss in Qingdao and the 0-7 defeat in Beijing—where Oscar and Burke received red cards causing prolonged disadvantage—were expected setbacks, then the home defeat in Yuxi by the season’s widest margin was completely unexpected. Before this, they had only lost twice at home: 0-2 to Guoan and 2-3 to Haigang.

Rongcheng’s sharp attacks and tricky shots left little chance for goalkeeper Yu Jianxian to salvage the situation: two shots hit the posts, one rebound goal, and a tap-in; Felipe fired two powerful shots, one hitting the top netting and the other sneaking into the corner... This was Yu Jianxian’s third start in the Chinese Super League; his previous two appearances came because the first-choice keeper Ma Zhen had to sit out due to his loan from Shenhua. Seeing Yu start instead of Ma for the first time, Yunnan fans cheered for their local Kunming player, hoping he could replicate his remarkable performances against Shenhua.

In the subsequent live commentary, “Jorn Andersen” remained the name that drew the loudest reactions from the stands. Despite just finishing a three-game losing streak against Guoan, the home fans continued to show strong support for their coach. After another heavy defeat, Andersen acknowledged everyone saw the gap between them and the league’s top teams, admitting their opponents played very well. “We created quite a few chances but only scored one goal.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Andersen was still relatively satisfied with the team’s current points and ranking. “We will keep giving our best in every remaining match this season,” said the determined Norwegian. “We still have to face some strong CSL teams, and the upcoming games will get tougher, but we are ready.”

Overcoming Growing Pains Is Not Easy

In the recently concluded FA Cup semifinals, both teams suffered major setbacks. When Hou Yongyong fought hard to equalize for Yukun, two Romanians sat in the stands: injured Jonica, the offensive core, and suspended Burke, the defensive backbone. After this clash, Chengdu Rongcheng returned to form with a big win, while Yunnan Yukun’s situation worsened. That night, the club and team held a serious review and agreed that temporary pain would not shake their confidence in avoiding relegation, and they must give their all in the upcoming home match against Changchun Yatai.

“Currently, the team cannot field its strongest lineup, especially in defense, where there is rarely a fully fit squad due to injuries or red cards,” Andersen explained by citing the opponent. Chengdu Rongcheng has been in the Chinese Super League for four seasons, having ample time to select good players and strengthen squad depth. “As a newly promoted team, we also need more time to pick players to support the squad.”

The hospitable Yunnan surely left a good impression on their visiting Sichuan neighbors. Before the match, classic pop songs “Chengdu” and “Dang” played, moving fans from both sides. Yunnan fans who once visited Phoenix Mountain still fondly remember the touching melody of “Caiyun Zhi Nan.”

In the west stand’s TIFO featuring an elephant and a panda side by side, along with lyrics like “Let us be companions in this world, living freely and boldly. Galloping horses, sharing life’s splendor...,” the friendship and aspirations of fans from Yunnan and Sichuan are expressed. If there is a difference, it is that the Land of Abundance rides a well-trained steed, while the Plateau hosts a spirited newcomer horse.

From Kunming to Yuxi, from the high-speed rail station to the long street banquet outside the stadium, from the Yukun fan store in daylight to the barbecue stalls at night, red-clad Rongcheng fans were visible everywhere. Although Yukun fans’ hospitality exceeded expectations despite a 4-goal loss, recalling times when Yukun benefited from own goals and penalties by other teams reminds that wins and losses, joys and sorrows, are just part of the CSL experience.

According to incomplete statistics, this match set a record for the highest number of away fans attending, with over 3,000 of the 22,998 spectators coming from Chengdu. When their team led 5-1, Rongcheng fans even cheered for Yukun’s corner attacks. As one Chengdu fan told local media before the game: “Sichuan and Yunnan are one family; winning or losing doesn’t matter.”

After 22 rounds, sitting ninth with 29 points and nearly double the margin from the relegation zone, this is a commendable achievement for the newly promoted Yunnan Yukun. Although the loss to Rongcheng was embarrassing, it is clearly not a decisive battle. The next home game against Changchun Yatai will also be fiercely contested. How to overcome the shadow and face challenges head-on, with the passionate Yuxi home crowd and fans, remains the team’s strongest support.