Henan Team: Although disappointed to miss the championship, the journey was worthwhile

Reporter Lu Mi reporting from Suzhou The moonlight at Suzhou Olympic Sports Center could not brighten the 31-year-long FA Cup championship dream of Henan supporters. On the evening of December 6, as the final whistle of the FA Cup final blew, the 0-3 score sealed the Central Plains Iron Army's journey as runners-up. Fabio’s hat-trick shattered the “dark horse” fairy tale and cast a shadow of regret over the cheers of more than 20,000 traveling fans and the “United as One, Creating History Together” TIFO displayed in the stands. From struggling in the relegation zone to an unexpected run to their first FA Cup final, Ramos’ Henan team wrote a story of resilience, but the gap in experience and setbacks at critical moments ultimately cost them the championship.

The FA Cup final against Beijing Guoan was undoubtedly the most significant match in the 31-year history of the Henan club and captured the hearts of nearly 100 million people in Henan. From the day tickets were announced, Henan fans entered FA Cup mode, eagerly anticipating another breakthrough by their team.

On December 5, Zhengzhou East Station, the heart of China’s railway network, transformed into a sea of passionate red. Over 21,000 fans from across Henan and cities like Beijing and Changchun gathered there, united by the belief that “Jianye must win,” setting off toward Suzhou. Such a grand gathering had not been seen in Henan football for a long time.

Earlier still, a fan named Wan Shuaipeng carried the Henan team flag and rode a tricycle, crossing three provinces and traveling 875 kilometers over 19 days from Zhengzhou to Suzhou. Along the way, he promoted Henan football and the club, physically embodying his love for the team.

Zhou Shao is currently a graduate student at Jilin University. This time, he flew from Changchun to Nanjing, then took a high-speed train to Suzhou. Although his journey was tight, his excitement was indescribable. His first Henan match was in 2015 against Beijing Guoan, which felt like a closure to his youth. He said that when Wang Guoming saved a penalty in the semifinal, he shouted loudly in the car, “My parents thought I was crazy.” From that moment, he decided no matter the distance, he had to watch the final live. “I’ve always believed Henan’s lineup is among the upper tier in the Chinese Super League; it was just a matter of tactical cohesion. Since Ramos arrived, they’ve developed a mature style. Henan deserves this final spot,” Zhou said.

Regarding the significance of the match, he was more at ease. He felt reaching the final was already a victory for the common people, allowing hundreds of millions in Henan to experience the final atmosphere and drawing more attention to Henan football, enhancing its commercial value. “Of course, since we made it to the final, just one step away, we should fight hard for the championship. Winning it would be perfect.”

Beyond the fans, the showdown between Henan’s liquor ancestor Dukang and Beijing Guoan attracted high attention from Henan province and city officials, who came to Suzhou to cheer the team. The sports director Bela, who had just renewed his contract with the club, made a video for the players the day before the match. It showed photos of each player from childhood to present, encouraging them to remember their journey to the peak, reminding them that “only a few players get the chance to create history like today.”

Compared to the experienced and deeper bench of Beijing Guoan, Henan had few options. Both teams fielded their strongest lineups, and from the start, the match entered intense confrontation without any probing. Henan took the initiative to attack, while Guoan mostly focused on defense. Despite Henan having a slight advantage in possession, they failed to turn the opponent’s passing errors into threatening attacks. Instead, at 16 minutes, they were caught off guard by a counterattack; amid chaos in front of the goal, their defensive structure broke down, allowing the league’s top scorer Fabio to score.

In terms of gameplay, Henan had the upper hand early on. Although they fell behind first, they quickly adjusted their mindset. However, in the latter half of the first half, dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions affected the emotions of players and substitutes. Guoan gradually regained control and, while pressing Henan, Maya handled the ball in the box, resulting in a penalty. Fabio converted it, putting Henan 0-2 down at halftime. At halftime, Ramos substituted Lu Yongtao, who had a yellow card, with Abdurrousuli and reminded the team of a previous miracle comeback from 0-2 down against Shandong Taishan this season.

Although pressure was repeatedly said not to be on Henan before the game, the team played very nervously. Their ball handling, coordination, and emotional control were almost entirely dictated by the opponent. In the 88th minute, Zhang Yuning was fouled by Huang Ruifeng in the box, and the referee awarded a penalty. Although Wang Guoming bravely saved Fabio’s penalty, after a VAR review, the referee ruled Wang moved early, ordering a retake. Fabio completed his hat-trick, and the final score remained 0-3.

In a historic match filled with defensive and offensive issues, no one performed at their usual level. This was not due to lack of preparation but clearly showed Henan’s lack of experience in major competitions. After the game, Ramos said: “Every match has a different context and players’ conditions vary. This game was a low point for us. Beijing Guoan performed better than last time at our home, excelling in many aspects. I’m definitely disappointed with the result. Still, I’m very proud of our fight throughout. We deserved to be in the final because we eliminated many strong teams along the way, but lost to a better-performing team in the end. We have written Henan’s name into history. Thanks again to the fans; we fought until the end, but unfortunately couldn’t bring them the championship.”

The result is a regret for this ambitious newcomer in the cup, but this memory will be deeply etched in the hearts of every person in the Central Plains. For Henan, this unfinished dream is the prelude to the next chapter of their journey.