On July 18th, Nanjing City, one of the top teams in the Central League, unexpectedly beat Qingdao Hainiu with a score of 2-0 in the one-eighth final of the F.A.C. Cup. After the match, Nanjing City's manager Fabio said in a press conference that the team was well prepared for the match and the players performed well.
Analyzing the match, Fabio revealed, "Looking back at the first half, I think we prepared quite well. Against a strong opponent, we anticipated that they would have some tactical advantages, but we were also aware that their offense might leave us some space.
Our NJC team has always been tactically centered on possession and looking for opportunities. We put a lot of effort into our pre-match training and the players were on point in the first half on both a tactical and technical level. Even with a 2-0 lead, we still had chances to extend the lead.
At halftime, I made it a point to remind the players that a 2-0 scoreline looks solid but carries risks. Therefore, we made some tactical adjustments. In the second half, we contracted our defense more and waited for the opportunity to counterattack. On the offensive side, our players showed great efficiency in defense and almost kept the opponents from scoring, and the final score stayed the same.
I firmly believe that our players deserve more credit than they are getting, and I would also like to thank the fans who have come from far and wide to support us, including those at home, and the club management who have been supportive."
