September 8: Xu Zhengyuan Suffers Biggest Defeat Since Taking Charge as Liaoning Tieren Lose 0-5 to Yunnan Yukun, Only 5 Points Above Relegation Zone

At 19:35 on September 6, at the Yuxi Plateau Sports Center, in the 77th minute, Liaoning Tieren defender Zhang Hongfu sent a horizontal pass from the back. As soon as the ball left his foot, 18-year-old Bunyamin rushed in. He intercepted the ball, drove forward, and calmly placed a shot into the far corner past goalkeeper Zhang Yan. The whole move was executed without hesitation. After scoring, he barely celebrated, only clenching his fist.

This was his fifth Chinese Super League goal of the season. In February this year, he joined Yunnan Yukun from Evergrande Football School for a transfer fee of 1 million RMB. He has made 17 appearances, scoring 5 goals and providing 3 assists, at the age of 18.

In a 5-0 match, many people will remember Kleber's hat-trick. But looking deeper into the game, Yukun's five goals actually came from two sources: the strength of their foreign players and the contribution from Bunyamin on the flank.

The goal in the 32nd minute was a typical example. Bunyamin beat two defenders in succession on the right before crossing, and Kleber finished with a volley in the middle. Eight minutes later, Jonica delivered a set piece and Oscar headed home, his 20th goal of the season. In the 64th minute of the second half, Oscar crossed from the left and Kleber headed in for his second goal; in stoppage time, Oscar beat Pan Ximing on the left before providing another assist, allowing Kleber to score his hat-trick, the first of his Chinese Super League career.

Oscar scored once and assisted twice, Kleber scored three goals, and Bunyamin contributed one goal and one assist. The front-line attacking group shared all five goals.

Liaoning Tieren did have chances. In the 13th minute, An Yien scored from close range, but the assistant referee raised the flag and VAR confirmed an offside call. In the 25th minute, after a Yukun defensive passing error, Geoffrey and Mbensa had two consecutive shots inside the penalty area, both saved by Wang Zhifeng. In first-half stoppage time, Geoffrey's free kick found Zhang Hongfu, who headed over.

After failing to take those chances, the scoreline was stretched in the second half.

The gap in foreign-player numbers was obvious—Yukun had all five foreign players available, while Tieren had only three. Mbensa had just returned from suspension, and midfield core Yasuhiro Kuniimoto was suspended. But the more practical issue was defense. Including this match, Liaoning Tieren have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive Chinese Super League games.

Bunyamin said something straightforward after the match: "If the team does a solid job defensively, its attacking performance will naturally follow."

He did not just say it. Nanometer Data's season statistics show that he has made 17 appearances with 5 goals and 3 assists, along with 25 tackles, 3 interceptions and 15 key passes. For an 18-year-old wide player, being willing to do this defensive work is not common in the Chinese Super League.

In the 38th minute of the first half, he cut inside from the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot, which Zhang Yan saved with one hand. In the 22nd minute, he delivered a cross from the byline, but Oscar headed over. He played almost the entire match and was only substituted in the 89th minute.

Looking back now, the 1 million RMB transfer in February appears to be one of the best-value deals in this Chinese Super League season.

For Yukun, after the 5-0 win their points total reached 38, with 11 wins, 5 draws and 10 defeats in 26 matches, moving them up to fourth place. Dalian Yingbo are ahead with 40 points, while Beijing Guoan and Qingdao West Coast also have 38 points. Yukun rank fourth due to an inferior goal difference.

Yukun's contradiction is also visible in the same set of statistics: they have scored 54 goals in 26 matches, the second-highest total in the league, but have conceded 51, also the second-highest. They had just lost 0-6 away to Zhejiang in the previous league match, and this season they have already had 10 league games conceding at least three goals per match, matching their total from the entire 2025 season.

Their high-altitude home ground is currently their strongest asset. After this match, their home winning streak has reached more than four games, and 18,536 fans filled the stands in Yuxi.

Liaoning Tieren's situation is much more difficult. After the 0-5 defeat, they have 7 wins, 4 draws and 14 losses in 25 matches, with 25 points and 13th place. They have gone five league games without a win and were beaten by Yukun home and away this season—the first meeting in Shenyang ended with Huang Zichang and Oscar scoring for Yukun, while Mbensa pulled one back in the 91st minute as Tieren lost 1-2.

This was also the heaviest defeat by scoreline since Xu Zhengyuan took charge of the team. He was appointed in May this year, when the team had earned only one point from six rounds. After he took over, the team climbed as high as eighth place, and the club gave him a three-plus-one-year contract in August. Now, across 13 league matches, he has recorded 5 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses, with a win rate of 38%.

Near the relegation line, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger beat Zhejiang 2-1 this round and temporarily moved clear with 22 points; Wuhan Three Towns have 20 points from 24 matches. Tieren have 25 points, five above the relegation zone.

Among their remaining opponents are Shanghai Port (twice), Zhejiang, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger and Wuhan Three Towns. Four of those matches are direct relegation battles.

In the same round, Chengdu Rongcheng drew 0-0 away with Henan, remaining top with 52 points but failing to clinch the title early. Shanghai Shenhua beat Chongqing Tonglianglong 3-1, while Chongqing have now gone 10 matches without a win.

Yukun's Chinese FA Cup run continues. After eliminating Chongqing Tonglianglong 1-0, they advanced to the semifinals. They have four league matches remaining, starting with an away trip to Shanghai Shenhua on October 10.

When Bunyamin was substituted, the lights were still on in the stands at Yuxi.

Hot Fun Creative Competition