The CMCL Yingde Division kicks off, with a local youth academy showdown reviving the Guangzhou Red-Blue Derby.

Reported by staff journalist Wang Wei. At 2:30 PM on June 1, the 2026 CMCL regional competition in Yingde Division launched at the Yingde National Women's Football Base, with the opening match between Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng and Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert. The two teams share deep ties: the former is largely composed of former R&F youth academy players, while the latter is rooted in the Evergrande Football School's youth system, carrying forward the legacy of Guangzhou's two major youth training traditions. This gave the CMCL clash a unique local derby flavor. In the end, Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert came from behind to win 3-1 after conceding the first goal.

The match started with dramatic twists. In the 23rd minute, Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng broke the deadlock. Veteran captain Huang Jiaqiang, 36, showcased his experience by curling a superb free kick from the edge of the box over the wall and into the top corner, making it 1-0. During first-half stoppage time, Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert produced a fine combination: Xia Ruizhi (No. 26) headed against the post from inside the box, and Huang Yiwu (No. 11) volleyed home the rebound to level the score at 1-1.

In the 77th minute, Huang Jiaqiang was substituted due to cramp. Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert immediately exploited the gap caused by Huangpu Zhicheng's substitution, with Xia Ruizhi slotting home to make it 2-1. In the 80th minute, Chenxing Chuangert captain Ju Feng delivered a corner into the box, and Yang Xin pushed the ball into an empty net to seal the 3-1 victory. Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert completed the comeback.

After the match, Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert head coach Sasha Mijailović summed up: "The first game is always tough; we prepared for three months. We were a bit tense in the first half. At halftime, I encouraged the players, and we played more openly and boldly in the second half. Overall, it was a good performance." On the team's goal, he added: "We aim to qualify for the national finals. We have been preparing for that, and it's a necessary stage to go through."

Man of the match Xia Ruizhi said: "In the first game, we didn't find our rhythm at the start, but in the second half we gradually got into our flow and turned the game around. I was a bit nervous when I came on, but with so many fans supporting us, I didn't let them down, nor the school or the club, and helped the team recover the match."

Despite the disappointing loss, Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng's fighting spirit was praised by the coaching staff. Coach Huang Donghong said after the game: "The young players' grit and attitude were recognized by the coaching team. Because some players are taking the college entrance exam, the team hasn't had much time to train together. But this is their first step into the CMCL, and it's a great experience. We'll go back, review carefully, and make adjustments in both physical and tactical aspects, hoping to do better in the next match."

In another Guangdong derby that day, Guangzhou Lian Zengcheng Aoti beat Wuhua Huajing 1-0. It is understood that the Yingde Division of the CMCL regional competition includes four local Guangdong teams: Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng, Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert, Wuhua Huajing, and Guangzhou Lian Zengcheng Aoti. It also attracted four other teams: Macau U23, Taizhou Morning Tea Dark Horse, Yancheng Dongtai Anbeisi, and Ganzhou Hongxing. The eight teams are split into two groups and will compete fiercely at the Yingde National Women's Football Base and the Changlu International Industrial Yingde Demonstration Base, vying for spots in the national finals.

The reason why the clash between Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert and Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng drew so much attention is not only because the players carry the youth academy bloodline of the Guangdong Red-Blue Derby.

Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert's full-time team manager and equipment specialist Li Haifeng also serves as the equipment manager for the U19 national men's football team. He is a veteran logistical core of Guangzhou football, having served for over a decade and worked closely with world-class coaches like Lippi, Scolari, and Cannavaro through Guangzhou's development cycles. Assistant coach and player Yang Xin came through the Evergrande Football School youth system, was promoted to Guangzhou's first team in 2014, and was included in the Super Cup, FA Cup, and AFC Champions League squads. In 2026, he joined Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert, balancing coaching duties with active playing commitments.

Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng also carries deep Guangzhou football sentiment. Most of its players are former R&F youth academy graduates, and the club's management comes from the former R&F youth system.

Because of these Guangzhou football ties and shared history, hundreds of fans traveled from Guangzhou to Yingde to watch the game. The atmosphere was electric, with cheers and chants echoing back and forth. The management team from Evergrande Football School also attended the match in full. Despite the scorching afternoon heat at 2:30 PM, both teams delivered an exciting match with their fighting spirit and determination, earning warm applause from the crowd.

Commenting on this nostalgic Guangdong derby, Huang Donghong said: "There was a lot of attention on this game. Guangdong Chenxing Chuangert is from the Evergrande Football School, while most of Guangzhou Huangpu Zhicheng's players come from the R&F youth system. Both teams carry the legacy of former Guangzhou football. That's why this match was so anticipated. The atmosphere was very different from a regular game; it's a great mental test for the young players and should greatly aid their development."