Reporter Wang Wei reported On the evening of August 2, in the 19th round of the China League One, Guangzhou Leopard visited Shenyang Tiexi Stadium to face the league leader, Liaoning Tigers. Remarkably, despite being against the home team that had not lost at home this season, Guangzhou Leopard maintained the lead for most of the match, only conceding the equalizer in the 105th minute. Although they felt regret, interim head coach Feng Feng stated after the match, "It's a good start!"

The formation remains largely unchanged, but the playing style has new requirements

Prior to this match, on July 29, Guangzhou Leopard made adjustments to their head coach, with Li Bing stepping down and Feng Feng taking over as interim head coach. Following this coaching change, there were some variations in the starting lineup, with Liang Xueming and Shan Pengfei, who had limited starting opportunities this season, being included in the starting eleven. The two foreign players, João Carlos and Nikon, played, while the defense was led by captain Jiang Jihong, with U21 player Xue Sibo guarding the goal.

Liang Xueming, who started, energized the team in the midfield, and Carlos appeared very excited facing his former club, Liaoning Tigers. Throughout the match, Guangzhou Leopard controlled the ball more, focusing on possession play. In the 21st minute, Carlos took a powerful shot from outside the box that was blocked, and moments later, he was fouled in the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty after consulting VAR, which Carlos converted, giving Guangzhou Leopard a 1-0 lead away from home. In the second half, the trailing Liaoning Tigers intensified their pressure, and in the 57th minute, Felipe capitalized on a corner kick to equalize. Just seven minutes later, Carlos made a through ball, and substitute Rosa, who came on in the second half, successfully evaded the offside trap, calmly shooting into the net, restoring Guangzhou Leopard's lead at 2-1. The match saw a lengthy stoppage time of 13 minutes, and in the 105th minute, Liaoning Tigers' substitute Liu Langzhou scored from long range, resulting in a final score of 2-2.

Overall, Guangzhou Leopard's formation did not change significantly throughout the match. After the game, Feng Feng explained to reporters that he had altered the team's tactical approach. Feng said, "The team is currently in a low phase, and I took over quite suddenly, having only one formal training session before the match. The first thing we instilled in the players was to control the game, meaning we should take the initiative. On the other hand, as a team from Guangdong, we need to fully utilize the characteristics of Guangdong football and players. Additionally, we have Brazilian foreign players who emphasize technique, so we must first excel in ball control and passing. Once we achieve this, we can take control of the match."

Striving to maintain possession is a significant characteristic demonstrated by Feng Feng since taking over Guangzhou Leopard. "Although we faced the top-ranked Liaoning Tigers in our first match, we still adhered to this approach, and I believe our players can achieve it. My primary requirement for this match was to organize our attacks through possession play to break down the opponent's defense. Considering we were up against the strongest team in the league, I think the entire team executed this aspect quite well," Feng said. "In my plans, I hope the team can show gradual improvement, especially given the limited time we've had to gel. We need to learn from the matches what works well and what needs improvement. Once this style is established, we can build our framework." Feng stated.

The fighting spirit and cohesion exceeded expectations

Feng Feng expressed confidence that the entire team could execute this playing style through their match against Liaoning Tigers. "It's also because of this style that when selecting personnel, we look for players like Liang Xueming, who possess technical skills and match experience, to fulfill such roles on the field." Feng said, "Rosa is also an excellent foreign player, but considering the challenges of this away match, we chose to bring him on in the second half to exploit the opponent's fatigue. Although he wasn't happy about not starting, I told him, 'You are the kind of player who can decide the match.' From the outcome, our substitutions had the desired effect."

On the sidelines during this match, there were two new coaches for Guangzhou Leopard: goalkeeper coach Li Wei and assistant coach Yan Feng. These two former national team players had just joined the team, with Li Wei arriving just two to three days before the match and Yan Feng coming directly to Shenyang before the game. After the match, Feng Feng specifically thanked the coaching staff: "I appreciate our coaching team, as we just formed this week, but I believe the work we've done has been quite effective."

Amidst a coaching transition period, Guangzhou Leopard's ability to push the league leader to fight hard for points away from home will significantly boost the team's confidence. In this regard, Feng Feng praised the players' competitive spirit: "I am very satisfied with the team's fighting spirit and cohesion, as several players pushed themselves to the point of cramping. The players' determination was evident to all, and I was quite moved; it exceeded our expectations. I believe this is a good start, and if we continue on the right path, we will have greater potential for improvement. As a Guangzhou native, I hope the team can play in the style of Southern football and deliver more entertaining matches to attract more fans to watch our games."