Huang Zichang's soccer journey
In a thrilling match against Zhejiang, Henan completed a 2-1 comeback with Huang Zichang's precise header from a corner kick attack. Looking back at the previous round of the AFC Cup, Huang Zichang once again sealed the win with a brilliant shot. After the match, Henan's foreign aid Nasario took a photo with Huang Zichang on social media and used the phrase "Go, Messi!" He was cheering him on.
This season, Huang Zichang has achieved a scorecard of 4 goals and 2 assists in multiple fronts. But in the last month, his form is like a volcanic eruption, contributing 3 goals and 1 assist in 7 consecutive games. It is worth mentioning that in every game where he scored, Henan had the last laugh!
Huang Zichang, 27, was once hailed as a genius of Chinese soccer. He started his career at Jiangsu Suning and delivered five goals and one assist in his first Chinese Super League season. Since then, he has been selected for the national team at all levels, and has become a regular in the national team. Despite his height of only 1 meter 73, he has been praised as the "Chinese Messi".
Huang Zichang made his debut for the national team on May 26, 2018, in a 1-0 win over Myanmar under the coaching of Lippi. Six days later, he made his debut again and played the full match in a friendly against Thailand. In Lippi's tactical system, Huang Zichang is highly utilized, and fans are looking forward to his future.
However, frequent national team call-ups left Huang Zichang plagued by injuries, which directly affected his athletic performance. In the following years, he played for Jiangsu Suning, Wuhan Zall and Henan. Despite a single-season high of seven goals and five assists in the 2022 season, the door to the national team was closed to him.
Now, 27-year-old Huang Zichang has found his form in Henan and is gradually becoming a key player in the team's frontcourt. Will coach Ivan give him a chance to show himself in the upcoming 18-team tournament? The Chinese Super League has a scarcity of local scorers, with the likes of Baihe Lamu and Xie Weijun having attracted Ivan's attention. Judging from his league performance, Huang Zichang has been no slouch. The former soccer genius, after a rebirth, is looking forward to blossoming again under Ivan's command.
