Tudor came off the bench as a secret weapon, Wuhan Three Towns ended their eight-match winless streak!

Reporter Lu Mi reports In the last game, Wuhan Three Towns lost 0-4 to Guoan. Deng Zhuoxiang felt that the team was overly respectful to Guoan in the first half and did not display enough fighting spirit. The difference in quality was evident, and "without fighting spirit, such matches are very hard." On the last day of August, Wuhan Three Towns hosted Shenhua, who were still stronger opponents. However, Three Towns players showed a different attitude this time, with more tackles and successful interceptions than Shenhua, reflecting tougher and higher-quality defense, disrupting the opponent’s attacking flow. Perhaps this change helped them achieve their desired result: a 1-0 victory that ended their previous eight-match winless run.

Both Wuhan Three Towns and Deng Zhuoxiang have recently felt immense pressure. After eight matches without a win and dropping points against relegation rivals, the team was on the brink of a relegation warning. Facing Shanghai Shenhua, who were top of the table before this round, almost no one outside expected them to gain even a single point, let alone three.

Deng Zhuoxiang clearly put a lot of effort into personnel deployment and tactical adjustments. Wuhan Three Towns switched to a five-defender formation, deliberately pulling the defensive line back with the three lines positioned closely to minimize shooting space for the opponent. Shortly after kickoff, Shenhua’s foreign player Asue scored from a set-piece, but the referee ruled it out by VAR due to a prior handball, sparing Wuhan Three Towns. Afterwards, the intensity of challenges increased. At the 15th minute, Three Towns captain Ren Hang collided with an opponent, sparking a minor scuffle, with Deng Hanwen and Asue each receiving yellow cards.

With Park Ji-soo suspended, Ren Hang, He Guan, and Zheng Kaimu played as three center-backs, while Wang Yi and Deng Hanwen guarded the flanks. Three Towns paid close attention to defensive support among players, with veterans like Ren Hang very focused on covering. Shenhua’s attack was not fast-paced and their transitions were slow, giving Three Towns ample time to organize their defensive shape.

Both teams went into halftime tied 0-0. In the first half, Wuhan Three Towns mainly relied on counterattacks through Palacios. In the second half, their formation pushed slightly forward, allowing Shaoer more ball possession opportunities, which greatly improved their offensive performance.

As the match progressed, both sides tired, leading to more mistakes and chances. At the 75th minute, Three Towns coach Deng Zhuoxiang made a crucial substitution, bringing on Tudor to boost the attack. This change turned the game around; Tudor’s entry strengthened Three Towns’ offensive threat. At the 89th minute, Shaoer delivered a precise pass, Tudor cut inside and scored a shot into the far corner. Four minutes before the goal, Shaoer had a brilliant solo run breaking through three Shenhua defenders on a counterattack, but his final shot narrowly missed, which didn’t alert Shenhua’s defense enough.

Tudor’s goal instantly electrified the home crowd, turning Wuhan Sports Center into a sea of joy. Deng Zhuoxiang, who had shown almost no expression throughout the match, hugged the coaching staff and players on the bench in celebration, clearly delighted. Before this game, Deng had been under tremendous pressure due to the continuous winless streak and faced much criticism.

When the referee blew the final whistle, the shadow of eight winless matches was completely lifted. Wuhan Three Towns players embraced each other, celebrating this precious victory. These three points were hugely significant for Wuhan Three Towns, not only ending their winless and three-match losing streaks but also increasing their lead over the relegation zone to 8 points, surpassing Henan and rising to 11th place in the standings.

“As the season nears its conclusion, fatigue and squad issues are unavoidable. Under these circumstances, discussing tactics excessively has limited value; the mental aspect is often more decisive than tactics,” Deng Zhuoxiang emphasized after the game. Reflecting on the previous eight winless matches, he said, “The team went through a tough period, and during hard times, people doubt themselves and each other. But today, our entire team – both those on and off the pitch, including all staff – truly fought as one. Everyone gave their all, and it’s this spirit that led to our result. I want to say the season isn’t over yet, and our goals aren’t achieved. After a short rest, we will keep striving.”