On the evening of July 30, the first round of the second half of the 16th round of the China First Division League was held, and the final four matches were unveiled. On the same day, the officials of the China First Division unveiled the selection of referees for the four key matches.
In the announced referee list, two Chinese Super League sequence referees will officiate two key matches that will determine the direction of the pattern. Sichuan Jiuniu and Shijiazhuang Kung Fu will face off at the Suining Sports Center, with Jiangxi referee Wan Tao in charge, assisted by Xinjiang's Alimujiang, Beijing's Peng Bo and Jiangsu's Cui Yueqiang. Wang Feng from Guangdong was the on-site supervisor.
Prior to the match, the two teams were separated by just one point in the standings, with an intense showdown on the horizon. A 0-0 draw between Guangxi Pingguo Ha Rang and Jinan Xingzhou, and Nanjing City's 0-3 defeat to Heilongjiang Bingcheng, led to a subtle change in the standings. Both Sichuan Jiuniu and Shijiazhuang Kungfu are hoping to take this opportunity to catch up with the leaders and consolidate their lead.
In another key match, Qingdao West Coast will face relegation-seeking Jiangxi Lushan at the Qingdao West Coast University Town Stadium. Yanbian referee Ren Tong, one of the new referees hired for this season's Chinese Super League, will officiate the match. Qingdao West Coast see a chance to catch up with their two rivals in the Super League, while Jiangxi Lushan are under relegation pressure and are striving for all three points.
The other two matches are also closely linked to the relegation situation. Wuxi Wuhu will face Dongguan Dongguan United at the Jiangyin Sports Center, with Liaoning referee Wang Yang in charge. Wuxi Wuhou have yet to taste victory this season, while Dongguan Union will be looking to continue their winning momentum. Shanghai Jiading Huilong will face Dandong Tengyue at Shanghai Jiading Stadium, with Hainan referee Zhang Yangfan in charge. Shanghai Jiading Huilong have been playing well for the last three rounds and will be looking to take this opportunity to escape the relegation zone.
It is reported that all the selection arrangements for referees in the China First Division League have been announced, but Chongqing referee Chen Hao is absent from this round of matches. This may be due to normal rotation, or Chen Hao may have suffered an unexpected situation in the last round of matches and needs psychological adjustment. Chen Hao was slapped by Coach Duan Xin when Nanjing faced Liaoning in the last round, and although he exercised restraint, the psychological shadow may take time to disappear.
