Wang Yu Gains Confidence, Yang Liyu Revives as Beijing Guoan Undergoes Mental Transformation and Wisely Saves Strength for AFC Champions League

With one foreign player away against Shanghai Port's five, Beijing Guoan fought out a 0-0 draw at Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium. Port had 21 shots with 6 on target, while Guoan managed only 5 shots with 2 on target, lost the corner count 1-14, and saw their possession reduced to 40%. Yet this was exactly the type of match that showed the toughness Montgomery has brought to the team.

At 19:35 on September 5, Shanghai Port hosted Beijing Guoan in the 26th round of the Chinese Super League. Port started with five foreign players—Leonardo, Anpum, Jean-Claude, Melendo and Vitor—while Guoan did not even fill a 23-man squad list and had only one foreign player available, Portuguese center-back Guilherme Ramos.

Dawhan was suspended for seven matches, Fabio missed the squad due to a reaction in his posterior thigh muscle group, Conte was still recovering from a groin injury, and Spajic remained in rehabilitation. Before the match, few believed this depleted squad could take points away from Pudong.

But after 90 minutes, the 0-0 scoreline was more striking than many victories. The 37-year-old Hou Sen made five to six key saves, including stops against Liu Zhurun in the 58th minute, Wu Lei's forceful shot in the 77th minute, Anpum's powerful strike in the 79th minute, and Li Xinxiang's unmarked header in the 83rd minute.

Ramos carried the depleted defense and produced 9 clearances, 4 tackles, 4 interceptions and 4 successful aerial duels. One foreign center-back withstood the reigning champions' 21-shot barrage and prevented the ball from crossing the line.

What people will truly remember from this match is Wang Yu's breakout performance. Since joining Guoan from Changchun Yatai at the start of the season, he struggled to fit into the system and was once dropped, facing considerable doubts mentally.

In this match, Wang Yu made his first league start of the season as a defensive midfielder. He was extremely steady in central defense and retreating support, fought for every ball, ran tirelessly, and formed a barrier in midfield.

His 'sliding tackle' quality was fully activated, which was exactly what Guoan valued when signing him. He fought until the 80th minute when both legs cramped and was replaced by young player Cheng Xi. Before leaving, he even helped at the top of the attack for several minutes.

After the match, Wang Yu made a meaningful comment in an interview. He said he was grateful to fans, whether they criticized or insulted him. The remark reflected the psychological shift of a player moving from being questioned to being needed.

His midfield role has been regarded by some in the industry as a lower-profile version of Chi Zhongguo. As long as he performs consistently and learns defensive experience from veteran Conte, securing a regular midfield rotation role should not be difficult. Wang Yu's growing confidence comes from the tactical environment Montgomery has provided.

Another player who impressed was Yang Liyu's revival. In the first 10 CSL matches of the season, he recorded 0 goals, 0 assists and 37 turnovers, drawing heavy criticism from fans.

Called upon in this match, he showed a clearly more positive attitude than before. In the 67th minute, he delivered a curling cross from the wing that flew beautifully toward the penalty area, but Serginho failed to make proper contact with the finish.

This key cross proved that Yang Liyu's technique and passing awareness were never the issue; he lacked only confidence and opportunities. The contrast between previous criticism and this match's praise shows that positive feedback is taking effect.

With Zhang Yuning called up for the Asian Games men's football team and Lin Liangming injured, Yang Liyu is one of the few wide players who can provide speed and running ability. He has been pushed into a starting role and must shoulder responsibility.

Montgomery's tactical setup was also noteworthy. He deployed a 5-4-1 formation with the whole team defending deep, stayed compact in the first half, then suddenly changed approach in the second half by switching from defensive positioning to high pressing and suppressing Port's attacking momentum.

This extremely pragmatic style turned the match into a slow-paced positional battle. The whole team defended around the penalty area, using multiple layers of interceptions to block Port's crosses and penetration, with the defensive line covering each other to neutralize attacks.

Guoan showed a long-lost collective toughness. The transformation from 'winning through individual ability' to 'enduring matches through system toughness' is exactly the survival approach needed in the AFC Champions League.

Fabio's absence was the biggest talking point of the match. Montgomery explained at the post-match press conference that Fabio did travel to Shanghai, but he had a reaction in his posterior thigh muscle group, and forcing him to play could create risks that would affect his later AFC Champions League performances.

After careful consideration, Fabio was left out of the squad. Montgomery even rejected the previously discussed option of playing after receiving an injection, preferring not to risk using a key foreign player with an unclear injury situation even if it meant failing to win three points.

Why was this decision smart? At 20:15 on September 15, Beijing Guoan will host the first round of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite League at Workers' Stadium, with Korean K League side Pohang Steelers as opponents.

Guoan's squad will also be incomplete for this AFC Champions League match. Zhang Yuning joined China's U23 national team preparing for the Nagoya Asian Games, and the first group match is scheduled for September 16, directly conflicting with the September 15 evening AFC Champions League match, meaning he cannot make it.

Conte received his fourth yellow card of the season against Tianjin on August 15 and has since been sidelined with a groin injury. Bai Yang will serve a suspension carried over from a red card in last season's AFC Champions League, requiring a reshuffle on the left side.

The good news is that the two dedicated foreign signings made by Guoan for the AFC Champions League have arrived. German midfielder Dudziak arrived in Beijing at the end of July and trained with the team, while DR Congo forward Shadrach Acolatse has also arrived for training.

In theory, Guoan's seven foreign players can all be registered to play in the AFC Champions League. Their positions do not overlap, with Fabio and Shadrach able to form the attack, Dudziak capable of playing defensive midfield and full-back, and Dawhan available for the competition, giving the team considerable attacking options.

Montgomery's coaching style itself is strong-minded. On that night in Pudong, he used a one-foreign-player lineup to show five-foreign-player Shanghai Port what it means to 'avoid risks, avoid overuse and avoid leaving hidden problems.'

Guoan no longer controls its own fate in the race for second place in the league. After Dalian Yingbo won this round, they moved alone into second with 40 points, while Guoan sits third with 38 points, two points behind. The team's priorities are no longer focused on the league.

Winning the FA Cup and succeeding in the AFC Champions League are the real targets for this Guoan team. The one point brought back from Pudong is worth far more than the number in the standings, proving that the team can fight through extreme adversity.

The 10-day adjustment window is a golden period for Montgomery to refine the starting lineup and allow new players to integrate. Wang Yu needs to maintain this confidence, Yang Liyu needs to turn signs of revival into consistent output, and Hou Sen needs to carry his 37-year-old veteran form into the AFC Champions League.

On the evening of September 15 at Workers' Stadium, the lights will shine on the pitch. Whether the spirit that helped a one-foreign-player Guoan draw with a five-foreign-player Port side can bring three points against Pohang Steelers depends on how Montgomery uses these 10 days to prepare.

#HotCreativeContest#