September 8: Liaoning Ironman Trapped in Relegation Battle, Choi Jung-won Hits a Bottleneck, Zhang Hongfu Still Needs Development

A shocking defeat in Yuxi has left Liaoning Ironman deeply trapped.

At Yuxi Plateau Sports Center, Liaoning Ironman suffered a stunning 0-5 defeat against Yunnan Yukun. Over the full 90 minutes, Ironman were completely dominated with little response. Kleber scored a hat-trick, Oscar contributed one assist and two goals, and 18-year-old Bunyamin also scored and assisted. With the emphatic victory, Yukun moved to 38 points and climbed from sixth to fourth place. Liaoning Ironman, who had hoped to gain points away from home and strengthen their survival position, have now gone five matches without a win, remaining on 25 points and dropping to 13th. More concerningly, they are only five points above the relegation zone and have played one more match, while Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Wuhan Three Towns are chasing closely.

The 0-5 humiliation has pushed head coach Choi Jung-won and his team into the most dangerous situation of the season.

After the 26th round of the Chinese Super League, the relegation battle has become extremely complicated. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger defeated Zhejiang 2-1 at home, moving from second-bottom to third-bottom with 22 points and temporarily shifting pressure elsewhere. Wuhan Three Towns sit 15th with 24 points, while Qingdao Hainiu are bottom with only 14 points after 26 rounds. Notably, these three teams are exactly Liaoning Ironman's next three opponents.

Liaoning Ironman's own situation is also precarious. Their 25 points place them 13th, seemingly outside the relegation zone, but the fact that they have played one more match remains a major concern. Henan, with 26 points, are 12th and have adopted a cautious approach by avoiding losses and collecting points steadily. In contrast, Liaoning have lost four of their last five matches, and a one-point difference cannot provide real security.

The comparison with other teams is even more worrying. In the upper half of the league, Beijing Guoan, Yunnan Yukun and Qingdao West Coast all have 38 points, while Shandong Taishan have 37. The largest gap among these teams is only one point, meaning one result can dramatically change the rankings. In such a competitive environment, Liaoning's 25 points could quickly be overtaken.

The problems left by foreign player recruitment during the winter transfer window had already planted the seeds of today's crisis.

Choi Jung-won does have coaching ability. For relegation teams, the bottleneck is often not outdated tactics but the inability of the available squad to support tactical ambitions. Liaoning's two full-backs have average crossing quality and struggled against a direct attacker like Bunyamin. The absence of midfield core Yuki Kobayashi disrupted attacking organization. Foreign player Vagic's unexplained departure before the season ended exposed recruitment issues. Mbenza received an additional suspension after an undisciplined incident and, despite returning against Yunnan Yukun, failed to provide the expected support role after a long absence.

The 0-5 defeat was the clearest reflection of these problems—fragile defense and ineffective attack. Choi wanted possession and penetration, but lacked midfield options; he wanted wing crosses, but lacked quality from full-backs; he wanted counterattacks, but the defense could not hold. When attack, midfield, and defense all fail to function, even strong coaching cannot solve everything. This is a common challenge for Chinese Super League relegation managers: tactical ambition colliding with squad limitations.

At this moment, the schedule has made the situation even worse.

Liaoning Ironman's upcoming fixtures are extremely difficult. On September 12, they visit Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, a very challenging match. Tianjin are full of confidence after beating Zhejiang, and head coach Yu Genwei has stabilized the team. Liaoning's defense will face pressure from attacking players such as Hadas and Giles. On September 17, Liaoning host Wuhan Three Towns, which may be one of their best opportunities for points. With similar standings, the match is expected to be intense. On October 17, they travel to face Qingdao Hainiu. Even if Hainiu may have already secured relegation, matches between survival rivals are always unpredictable.

Media figure Li Xuan said: “Liaoning Ironman face relegation danger, while also acting as a judge of others' fate. What kind of coincidence is it that they next face three relegation rivals in succession?” They are both challengers and decision-makers. In these three “six-point matches,” Liaoning need at least four points to have a realistic chance of staying up.

18-year-old Zhang Hongfu is the most notable young player in Liaoning Ironman and a reflection of the team's current situation. On July 4, 2026, he made his CSL debut against Chongqing Tongliang Dragon and played the entire match. On August 23, he scored his first CSL goal. On August 29, Choi Jung-won assigned him to mark Brazilian striker Felipe, who had scored 16 goals this season. Zhang responded with three interceptions and four clearances and received praise from the coach.

According to Nano Sports data, Zhang has made 17 CSL appearances this season, starting seven times, with 681 total minutes, one goal, 36 clearances, seven interceptions, 19 tackles, 211 successful passes and 37 successful one-on-one duels, with an overall rating of 5.82. While the statistics look promising, a third-party scouting report offers a more cautious assessment. The CFI scouting report classifies Zhang as a B2F3-level development prospect with a Scouting Index of 35/100. It notes his 1.90-meter height and emerging mobility as positive physical traits, along with proactive pressing and strong willingness to compete. However, instability remains in physical duels, aerial battles, deep defending, and ball handling.

These issues appeared in matches. His aggressive pressing can expose space behind him if the first challenge fails. He completed only seven of 22 long passes, showing vulnerability in build-up against high pressing teams. His 1.90-meter frame has not yet fully become a physical advantage, and there remains a gap between wanting to defend and knowing how to defend. Against Yunnan Yukun, Bunyamin took advantage of Zhang's passing error to steal the ball and score in a one-on-one situation. This is part of the learning process for a young player in professional football.

Zhang Hongfu deserves long-term attention, but he has not yet reached a stage where he should be overhyped. His 681 minutes only show that he is still developing, with significant room before reaching a higher competitive level. Choi used him to mark Felipe because he valued his physical qualities and willingness to compete, but in relegation battles every mistake in timing or passing can be magnified.

Being 18 years old, a CSL starter, and under relegation pressure at the same time is a reflection of the realities facing Chinese football development. Zhang has good physical qualities and deserves credit for earning a starting role, but he is still only 18 and needs more experience through matches.

After the 0-5 loss to Yunnan Yukun, Choi Jung-won is facing more than tactical issues in the dressing room; he is dealing with resource limitations. The team needs foreign player reinforcement, must reorganize attacking play after Yuki Kobayashi's return, improve full-back crossing, and both use and carefully develop young players like Zhang Hongfu.

September 12, September 17, and October 17 are three crucial relegation battles, with each being a “six-point match.” Securing at least four points may be the survival minimum. Tianjin Jinmen Tiger are in strong form and Yu Genwei has stabilized the team, meaning Liaoning's defense faces a major test. Wuhan Three Towns are lower in the standings, but matches between relegation rivals are always difficult to predict. Qingdao Hainiu are bottom, but desperate teams often show greater fighting spirit.

Relegation battles are about more than points; they are also about mentality and confidence. The 0-5 defeat may have left Choi Jung-won struggling temporarily, but the season is not over. The next three matches against relegation rivals are both a judgment and a chance for redemption. Players like Zhang Hongfu need to continue growing through competitive experience. Whether Liaoning Ironman can survive the storm will depend on whether the players can truly carry Choi's tactical ideas from the board onto the pitch.