Chapter 125: Eight Rounds Without a Win

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On August 12th, Cai Sheng led Qingdao Seabreeze to Shanghai, where tomorrow they would face the home team Shanghai Qunli at the Jiangwan Stadium.

Shanghai Qunli’s performance this season was mediocre, currently sitting eighth on the league table with no immediate relegation threat. Qingdao Seabreeze, however, was teetering on the edge of danger. Six points separated them from escaping the relegation zone, and a seven-game winless streak had sapped the team’s morale. Facing Shanghai Qunli on their home turf, public opinion agreed that while Qingdao Seabreeze still had the ability to fight, it would be extremely difficult for them to take even a single point away from Shanghai. In the first round, they had struggled even at home, managing only a goalless draw against Shanghai Qunli; now, the challenge was even greater on the road.

For the match, Cai Sheng stuck with the previous starting lineup: goalkeeper Han Feng; defenders and captain Liu Ziyan, Lu Dashan, Wu Jize, and Xie Hui; midfielders Li Erlong and Liu Jian in the center; wingers Qi Zhi and Liu Bin; and forwards Lv Baozi alongside another striker.

Long Bisheng and Huang Zhenghong sat on the bench. Before the game, Cai Sheng had told them they would not be playing, and that their task was to closely observe their teammates’ movements and habits on the field, familiarize themselves with the atmosphere of professional league matches, and prepare for their chance to play—whether in the next game or the one after.

Huang Zhenghong was somewhat more accustomed to the professional league. Since joining the first team this year, although he hadn’t secured a full match appearance, he had been on the bench several times and even entered during garbage time. At least he had begun to experience the atmosphere of professional league stadiums, which was a significant step up from the China League One. Wuhan, for instance, boasted the Wuhan Yacheng club, a top-tier team that drew large crowds. Shanghai, as an international metropolis, hosted four or five professional teams, including a strong top-tier side and two China League One teams. Thus, the atmosphere at Shanghai Qunli's home games was not as fervent as in some other cities.

For Long Bisheng, however, the experience was overwhelming. Although he had played in the UK for a year, it was all youth team matches with sparse attendance, even though he had watched a few games at St. James’ Park. Feeling the live crowd’s energy while sitting in the stands was one thing; playing on the field under such pressure was entirely different.

Even sitting on the bench, Long felt the crowd’s roaring cheers seemed directed at him, the deafening shouts exploding by his ears. How could one not be distracted?

Whenever the stands erupted in cheers, Long instinctively shrank his neck and glanced back nervously. Huang Zhenghong noticed and nudged him with an elbow, whispering, “Focus… let them shout. They’re not yelling at you. Why keep looking at them?”

Long gave an awkward smile. “I… I’m not used to it… When I played before, there weren’t this many people.”

“What did we play before? Just some invitation tournaments with a few hundred college students on the sidelines. Professional league matches draw tens of thousands, sometimes even more. You have to get used to it. Besides, you need to focus on the game. For young players like us, watching from the sidelines is a learning opportunity. Don’t waste it.”

Perhaps because they joined the team together, Long and Huang had grown closer during yesterday’s training. Huang was warm-hearted; otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned a starting spot and captaincy in the Wuhan youth team as an outsider.

Huang’s words snapped Long out of his daze. Although he wasn’t playing today, the coach’s instruction to observe closely must have a purpose. He couldn’t slack off. This contract was hard-earned. If he couldn’t perform well domestically, he would have no chance to play in Europe.

With that thought, Long focused intently on the match. Naturally simple-minded, he had few distractions. His earlier inattentiveness stemmed only from inexperience. Once he concentrated, the crowd’s cheers gradually receded into the background.

As he watched, Long began to discern some patterns.

Qingdao Seabreeze’s players fought fiercely on the field. Perhaps driven by their perilous relegation position, each player showed fierce determination, running tirelessly. Shanghai Qunli, leveraging superior technical skills, countered with quick passes and deft ball control, constantly threatening Qingdao’s goal.

Qingdao’s defense was solid. Central defender Lu Dashan was energetic, aggressive in defense, and excellent at handling aerial balls. His partner, Wu Jize, stood over 1.8 meters tall and was quick to turn. Together, they complemented each other well. In front of them, midfielder Li Erlong acted as a screen, running actively and using his strong physique to disrupt opponents’ rhythm with fouls—a crude but effective defensive tactic, especially in the tactically limited China League One.

However, Qingdao’s attack was uninspired. Left midfielder Liu Bin seemed stronger defensively than offensively, often retreating to help near the penalty area. The main offensive thrust on the left came from captain Liu Ziyan, who balanced attack and defense. Right midfielder Qi Zhi was decent, but his dribbling skills were lacking; he relied mostly on long passes. Central midfielder Liu Jian was technically skilled but lacked the ability to breakthrough individually. Offensive organization mainly depended on forward Lv Baozi, who had excellent ball control but was weak in finishing. The other foreign forward showed little distinctive skill, mostly running across the front line. Despite multiple wing crosses and central breakthroughs, the team lacked a consistent goal scorer.

The first half ended with Qingdao successfully resisting Shanghai’s attacks and having several chances of their own, but the score remained goalless.

“Liu Ziyan, in the second half, push forward more! Use your attacking skills—don’t just cross from the wings. When you have the chance, boldly cut into the penalty area. Liu Bin will cover you. Qi Zhi, your passes need more threat—direct and precise. Let Lv Baozi dribble more; even if he can’t break into the box to score, he should create set-piece opportunities. We have several free-kick specialists; they need chances… Also, remember to defend during attacks—that’s our foundation. Understood?”

Cai Sheng drew numerous lines on the tactics board, frustrated by their inability to convert chances into goals. But he had limited resources. If only they had a forward with strong scoring ability, Qingdao’s solid midfield and defense could secure a better standing. After nineteen rounds, Qingdao had only lost eight matches. If not for a recent six-game losing streak resembling a plague, their losses would be comparable to top teams like Xiamen, Changchun, and Guangzhou. However, out of eleven other matches, nine ended in draws. Excessive draws and failure to turn advantages into wins were the main reasons for Qingdao’s precarious position.

In the second half, Qingdao’s offense improved. Liu Ziyan, Lv Baozi, and others with strong breakthrough abilities frequently attacked, aiming to create chances or at least free kicks. Within twenty minutes, Qingdao earned four direct free kicks in the opponent’s half, and at the seventeenth minute, Lv Baozi scored a beautiful curling shot into the top corner, ending a five-game goal drought.

Ecstatic, Lv Baozi received congratulations from teammates. His cheerful personality and humor made him popular, but a striker’s standing depended on goals, not popularity.

After the goal, Shanghai Qunli immediately adjusted tactics, committing to fouls in their own half while ramping up offense. Their players’ delicate skills flourished amidst the roar of over twenty thousand home fans. Their play flowed like mercury spilling, and at the seventy-third minute, a brilliant combination tore through Qingdao’s defense. After drawing Wu Jize out of the box, their nimble forward outmaneuvered Lu Dashan and faced the goalkeeper. Despite Han Feng’s previous saves, he failed to stop this shot, and could only helplessly retrieve the ball from the net and kick it far away.

Cai Sheng sighed helplessly on the sidelines. Recent matches had followed this pattern: leading, only to lose midfield control and then endure relentless attacks. Qingdao’s defense was strong but could not withstand such pressure indefinitely. Although two players could maintain possession upfront, they lacked support. Early advantages gained through hard tackling failed to translate into goals, and once fitness waned, they were left vulnerable. Without addressing these issues, winning would be difficult.

On the pitch, Li Erlong fouled an attacker, halting a dangerous play but earning his ninth yellow card of the season. He would be suspended for the next match.

But Cai Sheng had no time to worry about that. If they couldn’t hold on, they might not even get a point—then it would be a real loss.

Fortunately, Qingdao’s defense held firm, preserving the draw at halftime. While Qingdao had two years of winless streaks and eight matches without victory, they had at least managed to avoid defeat today.