In the last round of the Chinese Super League (CSL), Guoan battled Shanghai Shenhua to a 1-1 draw on the road, despite the fact that the team was plagued by injuries and the absence of key players. Many fans originally predicted that Guoan would be defeated, but the final result was surprising.
During the match, Guoan showed a strong offense in the second half, creating threats many times. If not for the heroic play of Shenhua's goalkeeper Ma Zhen, Guoan might even have taken all three points on the road.
Guoan were said to be unlucky, missing two excellent chances to break through in the second half. One came after a mistake by Shenhua defender Yan Xinli, when Kang Xiangyou's shot grazed the post.
The other was done by substitute striker Yu Dabao, whose long-range shot hit the crossbar of the Shenhua fans' stand. This scene not only showed the level of Yu Dabao's top striker, but also emphasized his loyalty to Guoan.
It is worth mentioning that this game was Yu Dabao's 199th Chinese Super League game for Guoan. In the next round, Guoan will challenge Cangzhou Lions on the road. If Yu Dabao is able to make his debut, he will create a new milestone in the Guoan team - his 200th Chinese Super League game for Guoan.
Meanwhile, Yu Dabao has become the representative of the current players in the Guoan team, occupying the third position in the Chinese Super League together with Park Cheng and Zhang Xizhe. In the match against Shenhua, Zhang Xizhe also completed his 300th Chinese Super League match for Guoan.
Zhang Xizhe, who joined Guoan at the age of 18, has been an eye-catching performer in the league, taking the lead in completing Guoan's record 300 Super League matches despite not being the oldest player in the squad. Yu Dabao, on the other hand, didn't join Guoan until the 2015 season, and was often injured while playing as a striker before that, resulting in him not being able to play full time every season.
Yu Dabao was unable to play due to injury at a crucial moment in the 2019 season when Guoan won the title. German coach Schmidt converted him into a center back, a temporary adjustment that has transformed Yu Dabao into a defender ever since. Despite his occasional amateurish mistakes in the game, he still became Guoan's main center back, pushing Yu Yang, a true center back, to the bench.
At the beginning of the season, Guoan head coach Menzo made Yu Dabao and Ngaardew the main center backs, but the team's defense was full of holes. In the face of fans' skepticism, Menzo decided to put Yu Dabao back in the striker position. Despite the 35-year-old Yu's limited stamina, he still has excellent strength as a substitute striker.
Here's hoping Yu Dabao can find his best form and score in his 200th Super League match for Guoan to bring the team victory!
