Reporter Lu Mi reports Perhaps, before the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers started, they did not expect that in the first game of the 2025 Chinese Super League season, they would be relegated back to Meizhou Hakka in the Chinese Super League for a high-intensity experience.

Before the game, head coach Yu Genwei made it clear that he hoped to start the new season with victory, and the team also carried out lineup run-in and tactical drills during the winter training, but from the process of the first game, whether it is the integration of new signings or the adjustment of personnel positions, the team needs more run-in. After a thrilling draw, the Tigers scored their first points of the season, but their winless streak in the first league game was extended to 13 years.

The two goals conceded exposed a number of problems

The Jinmen Tigers sent five foreign players to start this campaign, including new signing striker Keles, midfielder Salvador and central defender Ross. One of the attacking flashpoints of the past few seasons, Barton was moved to the full-back position during winter training. Xie Weijun also practiced the central defender position during winter training.

Compared with last season, the Jinmen Tigers have made a lot of adjustments in the defensive line in the new season. Such an adjustment suffered another blow in the opening stage, conceded the goal early, and in the second half, Meizhou Hakka established a two-goal lead. Meizhou Hakka has adjusted more than two-thirds of the lineup this season, but the command and effective targeted tactics of head coach Milan have allowed the visitors to get off to a successful start. Only 6 minutes into the opening game, Liu Yun played a "pass-like shot" shot on the side, and the ball bounced off the ground and drilled into the goal of Jinmen Tiger. Many of the Jinmen Tigers' central defenders failed to intercept, exposing a lot of defensive problems.

In the first half, the Jinmen Tigers had a clear advantage in possession time, with a whopping 14 shots on goal and two hits to the woodwork. However, on the ground, outside players Kiles and Salvador didn't have enough chemistry with their team-mates. After Barton retreated, the Jinmen Tigers lacked tandem and explosive points in the frontcourt, which is one of the reasons for their lack of finishing ability in front of goal.

Meizhou Hakka mainly plays counterattacks, while Jinmen Tigers have detailed problems with the counterattack of the away team and set-piece defense. In the second half, Yu Genwei replaced Xie Weijun to strengthen the firepower on the offensive end. But in the corner kick defence, Xie Weijun was stuck on the outside by Liao Junjian, resulting in the latter scoring the second goal.

Only two goals were scored from 30 shots

After falling behind by two goals, the Jinmen Tigers woke up like a dream and attacked aggressively as a whole, creating huge pressure on the Meizhou Hakka defense. Xie Weijun was injured and fell to the ground in a head-to-head scramble with Liao Junjian in a highball scramble. After a brief period of processing, he continued to fight on the field. The hard work of the whole team finally brought hope. In the 85th minute, Liao Junjian handball in the penalty area, the referee awarded a penalty after watching the video, but Kiles' shot was blocked by Guo Quanbo.

As the minutes ticked by, the Jinmen Tigers, who missed a penalty opportunity, were getting closer and closer to the home defeat. At this time, Kiles, who missed the penalty, stepped up and completed the redemption in the final moments. He scored twice in the final minute of normal time and in the final stages of stoppage time to help his side equalise. The assists were provided by midfield signings Salvador and Wong Ka Fai. Although the Jinmen Tigers still failed to break the "curse" of 13 years of winless in the first round, the team's offensive effect at the last moment and the spirit of not giving up are still worthy of recognition.

After the game, Yu Genwei said: "It's a pity that I didn't win the first game, and I disappointed the fans who came to the scene. It's a cold day and everyone braved the cold to support us, and we should have given 3 points. Judging from the whole performance, I think I am still satisfied. We had 30 shots on goal and maybe the conversion rate was a bit worse. Therefore, I think everyone is still working hard, and basically playing out the tactical routines practiced in the winter training. ”

The first game of the new season is a test of winter training and the ability of new signings, and the performance of the Jinmen Tigers in the game obviously did not meet expectations, and both offensive and defensive ends were insufficient because of the changes in personnel and positions. However, it is not a bad thing to expose the problems in the opening game, and the team needs to adjust their form as soon as possible to speed up the overall run-in. "There's a lot to sum up about the game. The first game was not easy to play, and the players also needed official matches to get used to it as soon as possible. Hopefully, the team will better meet our expectations at both ends of the pitch and form a better understanding between the players. Yu Genwei said.