Yatai: Securing a point is also a victory

Special Correspondent/Liu Zhun As the season's Chinese Super League reached its 19th round, the relegation zone teams Shenzhen Xinpengcheng, Henan Team, Meizhou Hakka, and Qingdao Hainiu all faced losses, while Changchun Yatai, playing away in the "furnace" of Wuhan, struggled to secure a point—after drawing 0-0 against Wuhan Three Towns, they ended their three-game losing streak. "For us, this is a very important point. I know this was a significant and tough match. Although we really wanted to win and earn three points, our opponents are very strong. In the end, we are satisfied with the point," said Changchun Yatai's coach Suarez at the post-match press conference.

After this round, Changchun Yatai, with a record of 2 wins, 3 draws, and 14 losses, has accumulated 9 points and remains at the bottom of the standings. However, they have narrowed the gap with relegation rivals Shenzhen Xinpengcheng (17 points), Henan Team (16 points), Meizhou Hakka (13 points), and Qingdao Hainiu (11 points), keeping their hopes of survival alive.

In early May, when Suarez took over as the coach of Changchun Yatai, the team lacked motivation and fighting spirit, suffering consecutive defeats to Henan Team, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, and Beijing Guoan. They only caught a breath after defeating Qingdao West Coast at home, but then faced another three-game losing streak—losing to the Shanghai duo and Dalian Yifang, leading many to believe that Changchun Yatai was destined for relegation. Despite the bleak outlook, Suarez remained confident that he would bring good fortune to Changchun Yatai.

The two three-game losing streaks under Suarez's leadership did not result in any substantial change in the team's position, but those familiar with the team could easily see the improvements: first, they were physically fit and could adapt to high-intensity matches; second, their fighting spirit was high, with most players completing each match with sheer determination despite the inability to improve skills in a short time; third, their relegation strategy was clear, as the coaching staff knew that to achieve the relegation goal, they had to rely on the current group of players. If there was a large-scale turnover in the transfer window, it would inevitably require a period of adjustment, posing greater risks.

Entering August, Suarez has been restructuring Changchun Yatai for three months, and they faced the most crucial battle in their relegation campaign—failing to leave Wuhan unscathed in the high temperatures could almost guarantee a relegation spot, especially since the remaining 11 matches left Suarez with little room for error.

In this match, Suarez included new signings Camilo and Eiferdin in the starting lineup, which accelerated Changchun Yatai's counterattacks and improved quality. However, Tan Long was absent due to injury and could not showcase Yatai's attacking strength. In the first half, Wuhan Three Towns created several threatening shots, but Wu Yake made saves to deny them. In the second half, the returning Ciprian came off the bench, and Changchun Yatai continued to carry the fighting spirit from the first half, hoping to secure a win. Meanwhile, Haimi Ti and Zhao Yingjie were injured and carried off on stretchers, while Rosic received a yellow card, which would result in a suspension for the next match due to accumulating four yellow cards.

Playing in the "furnace" of Wuhan during the dog days of summer is inherently difficult, especially in temperatures exceeding 36°C for a relegation battle against Wuhan Three Towns. Facing the sweltering heat, Yatai soldiers were determined to fight for their survival and hoped to return from Wuhan unscathed. The matchup was dubbed a highly anticipated "revenge battle," as several players from Wuhan Three Towns, including Liao Chengjian, Wang Jinxian, and He Guan, had previously played for Changchun Yatai, while Yatai featured Wu Yake, Yan Zhiyu, Wang Zhifeng, and He Yiran, who were from Wuhan. In the match, He Guan started, Wang Jinxian was a substitute, and Liao Chengjian did not get a chance to play, while Wu Yake and He Yiran started for Yatai, with Wang Zhifeng remaining on the bench and not participating.

A positive note for Yatai fans was the return of midfielder Ciprian, who had missed half the season (15 matches) due to injury. He came on as a substitute in the 78th minute, getting nearly 20 minutes of playing time. Although it was a substitution to regain his form, Ciprian's performance indicated that he would be fully adapted to the intensity of the Super League in just one more match.

After securing a difficult point in Wuhan, Suarez led the entire team to thank the Yatai fans who traveled to support them, stating, "We will treat every remaining match as a final. We are continually improving and hope that fans will give us more confidence." On August 9, Changchun Yatai will travel to Quancheng to challenge Shandong Taishan. In this match, Tan Long may continue to be absent, and with Rosic suspended, Changchun Yatai will need to grit their teeth. In the relegation battle, securing a point is also considered a victory.