Special Correspondent / Shen Jun On July 19, in perhaps the most highly anticipated match of the 2025 season in the Chinese League One, the Liaoning Ironmen achieved a 4-2 victory against their top promotion rival, Chongqing Tonglianglong, at the Tiexi Stadium in Shenyang, winning the "Top of the Table Clash," with bright prospects for promotion. Initially considered an evenly matched showdown, the Liaoning Ironmen took a commanding 4-0 lead within just 38 minutes, turning the match into a one-sided affair.

This match attracted 39,868 fans, setting a new attendance record for the Liaoning Ironmen this season. So far this season, over 225,000 fans have attended the Ironmen's nine home games, leading the 16 home teams in League One with an average of nearly 25,000 fans per game.

Repeatedly practicing targeted tactics

In the first encounter between the two teams, the Liaoning Ironmen lost 1-2 to Chongqing Tonglianglong away, marking the only defeat for the Ironmen this season. Returning to home turf, the Liaoning Ironmen were determined to win. In the first 15 minutes, top scorer Mbunza calmly maneuvered past the defenders in the penalty area and scored to break the deadlock. In the 27th minute, assisted by Bang Benyiyu, Mbunza successfully timed his run and scored again, marking his 19th goal of the season. After a dream start, the Liaoning Ironmen grew stronger, successfully timing their runs again in the 32nd minute, creating a "double opportunity" as Mbunza selflessly assisted An Yien to extend the lead. In the 38th minute, Zang Yifeng crossed from the byline, and Bang Benyiyu executed a stunning volley into the net. In just 38 minutes, the Liaoning Ironmen had a four-goal lead, and the "Top of the Table Clash" had lost its suspense early.

In the second half, the Liaoning Ironmen gradually substituted Mbunza, Bang Benyiyu, and An Yien, the "three big bombs," while Chongqing Tonglianglong managed to score two goals, ultimately locking the score at 4-2. After this match, the Liaoning Ironmen had accumulated 40 points after 17 rounds, leading second-placed Chongqing Tonglianglong by 3 points.

After securing this crucial promotion battle, Liaoning Ironmen head coach Li Jinyu happily stated, "First, I want to thank the fans who came to the game! Nearly 40,000 people created another attendance record. The whole team is very honored to play in such a vibrant atmosphere. Thanks to the players, everyone was very focused, which was a key reason for winning the match."

When discussing the specific reasons for the significant victory, Li Jinyu candidly remarked, "The main reason is that we did a lot of preparation work before the match, especially targeting the playing style of Chongqing Tonglianglong. We conducted many targeted tactical drills this week, and today the players executed them very well, allowing us to quickly open the scoring and net four goals."

The targeted tactics Li Jinyu referred to were clearly the offside tactics. In this match, Chongqing Tonglianglong did not sit back and play defensively but instead launched an attacking game from the start. In this scenario, the Liaoning Ironmen, with their four formidable attackers—Mbunza, Bang Benyiyu, An Yien, and Felipe—executed their counterattacks brilliantly, scoring both the second and third goals through successful offside plays.

Achieving transformation through unity and hard work

How did the Liaoning Ironmen turn the top match into a one-sided game? Besides the club offering the highest bonuses of the season for significant rewards, the team's unity and unwavering determination are the most crucial factors enabling them to lead the League One standings.

On July 20, the Liaoning Ironmen club released an injury report: forward Zhao Jianbo suffered fractures to the medial and inferior walls of his right eye socket, as well as fractures to his nasal bone and bilateral maxillary bones. In the joyous atmosphere following the top match victory, such an injury is concerning. In fact, Zhao Jianbo's injury occurred in the final minute of stoppage time, and the collision with the opponent happened near the midfield. Analyzing the situation from any angle, this injury seems somewhat unfortunate. However, during the match, when Zhao Jianbo leaped high to contest a header at Tiexi Stadium, his only thought was victory and promotion. His fearless challenge perfectly exemplifies the Ironmen's collective determination and courage in pursuit of their promotion goals this season.

Since 2017, the Liaoning men's football team has been absent from the top league for eight years, marking the longest "dark moment" since the professionalization of men's football, becoming a thorn in the hearts of Liaoning football fans. Members of the Liaoning Ironmen coaching staff, including Li Jinyu, Yang Yu, Wang Liang, and Jiang Feng, all witnessed the glory of Liaoning football during different periods of their playing careers. They naturally possess a strong sense of mission to bring Liaoning football back to the top league, and the team they coach is united in purpose, focused solely on promotion as the "Ironmen."

Recreating the iconic bow-and-arrow celebration

In this match, when Mbunza opened the scoring for the team in the 15th minute, the Congolese forward ran to the sidelines and knelt in a bow-and-arrow celebration pose. Long-time Liaoning fans know that this is the signature goal celebration of current head coach Li Jinyu from his playing days. When asked in the post-match press conference whether Mbunza's celebration was a tribute to him, Li Jinyu's response was somewhat "unexciting": "I didn't notice his celebration; I don't think he knows much about my career."

On the 20th, a reporter asked Mbunza to confirm this, and he indeed verified that a friend had recommended Li Jinyu's goal celebration to him. He specifically performed the bow-and-arrow celebration to pay tribute to the head coach and thank him for his immense contribution to the team, leading everyone forward with enthusiasm.

In the past, Li Jinyu, as a member of the "Liao Xiaohu," was full of passion, like a burning flame. Now, sitting on the coaching bench, he seldom smiles, making it hard to catch any emotional shifts on his face, even after a big win. The stark contrast between the past "Dayu" and the current "Coach Li" illustrates the immense pressure that a head coach must endure.

Under pressure and adapting, at least for now, Li Jinyu has delivered impressive results: when he first took over last season, the team was in the relegation zone, finishing fourth by the end of the season; the Ironmen have accumulated 40 points in 17 rounds this season, leading the table for five consecutive rounds. In nearly a year under Li Jinyu's leadership, the Ironmen have lost only two matches in the league, both to the same opponent—Salvador, who coached Guangzhou last year and now coaches Chongqing Tonglianglong. As the saying goes, third time's a charm; when facing Salvador for the third time in this "Top of the Table Clash," Li Jinyu outsmarted his opponent tactically, ensuring the match lost its suspense within just 38 minutes.