At 19:35 Beijing time on August 11, the 22nd round of the 2024 season of the Chinese Super League will stage a much-anticipated matchup - the
Qingdao West Coast
meet the enemy head-on
Beijing Guoan (soccer team)
The match is of interest not only because of the relegation pressure on Qingdao West Coast, but also because of head coach Shao's uncomfortable relationship with Guoan. This match is not only interesting because of the relegation pressure on Qingdao West Coast, but also because of head coach Shao Jiayi's uncomfortable relationship with Guoan.
Qingdao West Coast, a promoted team, is mired in the relegation zone and every point is crucial. On the other hand, Beijing Guoan, as a team with the slogan of "always fight for the first place", has never shown any mercy to their opponents because of their situation, which has been seen in the past seasons. The most famous example is the 1999 season, when Guoan refused to let LiaoZhou win the championship in the last round, indirectly accomplishing the miracle of Shandong Taishan's championship, a scene that is still fondly remembered by fans.
For Qingdao West Coast, this is a life-and-death battle. As the third top league team in Qilu, Qingdao West Coast made their debut in the Chinese Super League in the 2023 season as runners-up in the Central League. At the beginning of the season, the team showed the potential of a dark horse, but as the season progressed, the performance slipped and Hisashi Kurosaki's dismissal became inevitable. Shao Jiayi, the 80-year-old former international, became the team's new helmsman, and his debut on the job ended in a draw, which wasn't perfect, but has shown the team's resilience.
Beijing Guoan, a traditional strong team, is not expected to compete for the title this season, but the spirit of "always competing for the first" remains. In the last round of the league, Guoan killed Shanghai Shenhua with 2:1 in the industrial stadium, showing the team's fighting spirit and strength. Although there is little hope for the championship, but the national security of every game, go all out, this spirit, let the fans love to hate.
Looking at the historical record, Guoan has won the last two meetings between the two sides by large margins, but this game, perhaps, will have a different script. Qingdao West Coast's desire to survive, coupled with the advantage of home ground, may galvanize the team. On the other hand, Guoan, despite their superior strength, have an unstable away record, which may leave Qingdao West Coast with a chance of survival.
