September 9: Mbengue Returns but Liaoning Tieren Suffer 0-5 Rout! Was Li Jinyu's Dismissal Really Unfair? September 12 Will Reveal the Answer

Asian Games Together On September 6, 2026, at Yunnan Yukun's high-altitude home stadium, Liaoning Tieren's top scorer Mbenza returned to the starting lineup after serving a four-match suspension. Fans hoped he could carry the attack and pull the team out of its winless slump. The result, however, was a 0-5 defeat. Kleber scored three goals alone to complete a hat-trick. In the first 30 minutes, Tieren had actually controlled the match, with An Yien repeatedly breaking away from opponents in defense, Mbenza shooting directly after winning possession, and Geoffrey Baggio making a smart interception in the attacking area. The game was completely under Tieren's control. But they could not deliver the ball into dangerous areas, and the foreign players' attacking impact was reduced to isolated individual efforts. In the 31st minute, Yunnan Yukun launched a quick counterattack and Kleber scored, causing the match to completely collapse. The defense was repeatedly torn apart and the midfield interception became ineffective, leaving Liaoning Tieren on the edge after a heavy defeat.

After the 0-5 loss, Liaoning Tieren had a record of 7 wins, 4 draws and 14 defeats after 25 league rounds, scoring 34 goals and conceding 46, with a goal difference of -12 and 25 points to rank 13th in the Chinese Super League. They had recorded one draw and four defeats in their last five league matches, conceding 13 goals. The relegation alarm was no longer simply ringing; it had become impossible to ignore. Some people began revisiting the past, saying: “Li Jinyu's dismissal was an eternal injustice.” However, on the afternoon of May 4, 2026, Liaoning Tieren officially announced that Li Jinyu would no longer serve as head coach and general manager. Only three hours earlier, he had attended the pre-match press conference for the game against Chengdu Rongcheng as normal. From holding a press conference at 2 p.m. to being officially dismissed at 5:30 p.m., only three and a half hours had passed.

This was the first head coach dismissal in the 2026 Chinese Super League season. He led the team for nine rounds, recording two wins, one draw and six defeats, collecting seven points. After four consecutive losses, especially a 0-4 away defeat to Henan, the unified calls for his dismissal from the away stands made it impossible for any management team to ignore the situation. His contribution to promotion was undeniable—he took over a team near the bottom in the 2024 season and guided them to fourth place in the China League, then led them to the China League championship in 2025. But after reaching the CSL, his tactical ideas, match management and substitutions failed to produce convincing performances. A former foreign player under him even stated that “Li Jinyu had no tactical ideas.”

After Li Jinyu's departure, the club placed its hopes on South Korean coach Xu Zhengyuan. He received a base annual salary of 700,000 US dollars, along with a high relegation bonus, a complete coaching staff and authority over summer transfer reinforcements. Xu Zhengyuan did have some impressive moments after taking charge, including leading a depleted squad to a 3-1 win over Shanghai Shenhua, which directly resulted in the opposing coach losing his job. However, looking at the full schedule, Liaoning Tieren did not establish an overwhelming advantage compared with the Li Jinyu era. Their average points per game improved from 0.78 over nine matches to a win rate of 38 percent, showing some recovery, but major matches still exposed weaknesses such as the 0-5 defeat. More importantly, Xu Zhengyuan's squad itself had obvious limitations.

On July 25, 2026, in the 20th round of the CSL, Liaoning Tieren faced Qingdao West Coast. In the 32nd minute, Mbenza pushed opponent Zhang Chengdong in the face with both hands and was directly shown a red card by the referee. On July 30, the Chinese football governing body issued a punishment: a four-match suspension and a 40,000 yuan fine. At the time, Mbenza had made 19 appearances for Tieren and scored nine goals, making him the team's top scorer. Losing their leading scorer for four matches immediately weakened Liaoning Tieren's already limited attacking power.

Misfortune came one after another. Against Yunnan Yukun on September 6, Mbenza returned, but midfield core Yuto Honmoto was suspended after accumulating four yellow cards. The midfield lacked someone who could control possession and deliver the ball into dangerous areas, leaving the foreign attackers' impact fragmented. After the match, Xu Zhengyuan said: “First, our mentality was somewhat relaxed and needs improvement, not only our players, but myself as well.” He apologized to the traveling fans and admitted it was a “setback.” He did not blame one absent player, but included himself among those needing reflection. However, a team that has conceded 46 goals—one of the highest totals in the CSL—cannot close its defensive gaps through apologies alone.

Now look at their opponent on September 12, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger. Jinmen Tiger are 14th in the table with 22 points, only three fewer than Tieren. But the value of Jinmen Tiger's 22 points is not exactly the same as Tieren's 25 points. On January 29, 2026, the Chinese Football Association announced the second batch of punishment decisions in the anti-corruption campaign in football. Jinmen Tiger were deducted 10 league points for historical match-fixing, gambling and corruption-related issues and fined 1 million yuan. They started the season with -10 points. In other words, the 22 points they earned after more than half a season came while carrying a 10-point deduction burden. If those 10 points were restored, 32 points would not be a poor total in the league. Jinmen Tiger also have a positive goal difference of +3, while Tieren have -12. The 15-goal difference is more striking than the three-point gap in the standings. In the previous round, Jinmen Tiger defeated Zhejiang 2-1 at home, with substitute Ji Shengpan scoring the decisive goal late in the match.

A relegation candidate that has players able to come off the bench and solve problems still has hope. At 7 p.m. on September 12, Tianjin TEDA Football Stadium will host a true relegation battle—whoever wins will gain a major advantage, while the loser will be dragged into the relegation fight alongside Qingdao Hainiu, who have 14 points. Liaoning Tieren have just suffered a 0-5 defeat and seen their confidence hit rock bottom, while Jinmen Tiger have won two straight home matches and are full of momentum. In the first meeting, Tieren under Li Jinyu defeated Jinmen Tiger 3-0 at home, but that is now history. Mbenza has just returned and has yet to regain his form, while Honmoto's availability remains uncertain. Away conditions, lingering fatigue from high-altitude travel, uncertainty in midfield and serious defensive problems make this a huge test for Xu Zhengyuan. Was Li Jinyu's dismissal unfair? The record of seven points from nine matches and four consecutive defeats provides a clear reference.

Mbenza's push that led to a four-match suspension caused significant problems for both himself and the team. But it would also be unfair to blame every problem on his suspension—the defensive issue of conceding 46 goals in 25 matches cannot be explained by one player's absence. September 12 will reveal the answer.

(Integrated headline and introduction information) Around September 9, 2026, Liaoning Tieren suffered a 0-5 defeat despite Mbenza's return, increasing the pressure of their relegation battle. The upcoming match against Tianjin Jinmen Tiger will be an important test of the team's ability to adjust.