Many of my friends think that 1:3 is not a bad loss, after all, it is not too big a score.
But if you look at the whole process of this round between Beijing Guoan and Meizhou Hakka, you will feel that "despair" is not only reflected in the score. The process is often more painful than the last score.
First, in good form and looking forward to the top three.
The visitors broke Chengdu Rongcheng's unbeaten run and beat Shenzhen at home, scoring 6 goals and conceding 0! These were not just two simple wins, but the transformation of Ricardo Suarez has made its initial mark, giving Guoan fans a glimpse of the ambitions of a veteran powerhouse on the rise.
At the beginning of Ricardo Suarez's arrival at Guoan, a one-goal win over Zibo Qisheng in the AFC Cup didn't raise eyebrows. Later the league lost to the momentum of the Shanghai Harbor, also got everyone's forgiveness. After all, just came to the Premier League, just contacted a new league, a new team, or face such a strong opponent, small negative opponent is acceptable.
The next two consecutive victories made the fans thoroughly impressed with the new coach and Guoan. Ricardo Suarez not only stopped Guoan's previous decline, but also proved his worth. After all, everyone was skeptical of his coaching ability and resume before he took over.
It is because of the recent good form that many of the capital's media have shouted for a return to the top three. For a while, Guoan was comparable to Shandong Taishan and Wuhan Sanzhen, also in excellent form, with a change of manager.
In addition, the Tianjin Jinmen Tigers failed to get all three points before this game, resulting in Shandong Taishan tying the points, and the two sides are tied for fourth in the standings (goal difference advantage, Taishan is ranked first). As long as Guoan beats Meizhou Hakka, the top two teams have only one point left, while Chengdu Rongcheng third place is only three points, into the top three is close.
A tantalizing change in points was shattered by three kicks from the Meijo Hakka!
Second, the status quo is brutal, and coaches make rare changes.
Then facing Meizhou Hakka, a sudden and tragic defeat brought Guoan to its senses.
The game gave a very distinct feeling. Before the first goal, Beijing Guoan was basically playing steadily at their own pace. However, it was this lapse in defense that led to the unexpected goal conceded, which completely alarmed the Guoan people. In the next 25 minutes, they conceded two goals in a row. If one of Meizhou Hakka's goals hadn't been blown away, the first half score would have been even uglier.
You don't understand why Nationwide suddenly lost power. After conceding the first goal, he suddenly lost his position. The whole defense was almost a mess from midfield to backfield. Meizhou Hakka didn't have that much control, but almost every foot of the pass was enough to pose a threat with limited chances.
In fact, the problem is here:two capable backs, two side backs, and the defensive echo between the center backs, there was a serious mismatch. As a result, Meizhou Hakka seized the seven inches and made a precise strike from the ribs between the back and the side backs. A direct kick or diagonal pass can take the wind out of Guoan's overall defense!
Coach Ricardo Suarez also realized this, so he made a very rare change at the beginning of the second half:four players were replaced in one breath! Chi Zhongguo at the back, two defenders, Zhang Chengdong and Feng Boxuan, and a forward, Nai Bie Jiang, were all replaced. The aim was to re-vamp the defensive system while trying to bring in new ideas on the offensive end. While this rare act paid off, the gap was too big in the first half and ultimately the defeat had to be accepted with regret.
