(Thanks to a reminder from a fellow book lover, I realized I had made an oversight in my writing. The Football Association Cup has restrictions on foreign players, and in the Chinese Super League, foreign players are not allowed in the second division! Let's revise the setting. Anyway, changes in Football Association regulations are common, so in 2019, with investor rights being protected, the restriction on foreign players in the FA Cup has been lifted.)
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"Welcome to the live broadcast of this FA Cup match! I'm your host, Su Rui. It is a great honor to have former international player Xu Yangxu join me as a co-commentator for today's game!"
"Hello, everyone. I'm Xu Yang!"
"Today, we have the Chinese Super League's rising powerhouse, Shanghai SIPG—the defending champions from last season—going up against the emerging superpower, Shenyang FC, from the Chinese League One."
"Shanghai SIPG needs no introduction. Although they haven't won in their last two rounds of the Chinese Super League, no one doubts the strength of the defending champions. This slump is likely temporary. SIPG should be able to regain their form and get back in the title race. As for this FA Cup match, their head coach, Pereira, has announced that they will be fielding their strongest lineup. It seems SIPG is looking for a dominant victory to boost morale, and Pereira himself also needs this win to solidify his position."
Before the game, the host typically introduces the teams and their recent form. However, the new host's preparation seemed a bit lacking. After introducing SIPG, he barely mentioned Shenyang FC, as if they were an afterthought.
This annoyed Xu Yangxu, who had come well-prepared with in-depth analysis.
"Hey, hey, what's with this rookie? Why did I get stuck with a newbie? The commentary fee is good, but shouldn't you at least research the most anticipated youth team of the second half of the season? Looks like I'll have to reveal my insights gradually during the match. Working with a beginner is tough!" Xu Yangxu complained inwardly.
Fortunately, the match was about to begin. A large number of fans flooded into the live broadcast room, and the chat started buzzing. After all, SIPG were the reigning champions, and their foreign stars were at a European club level. Even though they didn't have the AFC Champions League boost this season, they still had plenty of supporters. Being the fifth-round FA Cup match aired in prime time, it naturally attracted a large audience. The 30,000+ spectators in the stadium were proof of that.
"SIPG will win! I'd give birth to a monkey for Oscar!"
"Easy game for SIPG!"
"Hey, hey, I don't even need to think—1.05 odds on SIPG winning, hahaha!"
"Three-goal handicap is too much! Betting on the underdog, hoping they put up a fight. They've been doing well in League One."
"Let's all bet on the underdog and pray that SIPG goes easy on them. That way, both sides win."
Not everyone watching was necessarily a fan. Many were gamblers or neutrals, but traffic was traffic. The live stream's viewership was rising sharply, prompting executives to wonder if they should start charging for FA Cup broadcasts. After all, even a small fee could add up...
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"Hulk takes a long shot! Oh, but it flies way over the bar! SIPG starts with intense pressure, while Shenyang FC is sitting deep in their own half. Looks like we're in for another attack vs. defense battle. Xu, do you think we'll see an early breakthrough?"
"SIPG has the tools to break the deadlock. Whether it's Hulk or Oscar, both are excellent long-range shooters. Elkerson and Wu Lei are also quick forwards who can create chances with their movement. A breakthrough seems like only a matter of time."
Although Xu Yangxu had high hopes for Shenyang FC's future, the gap between the Super League and League One was simply too big. Young players often lacked consistency. He could only hope they put up a fight and made the match entertaining.
"While SIPG's victory seems inevitable, Shenyang FC, the second-placed team in League One this season, has won six straight matches. Most of their squad consists of young talents loaned from the historic clubs of Northeast China. Their strength shouldn't be underestimated. Hopefully, they can put up a fight and create some suspense!"
Hearing this, host Su Rui regretted not researching the visiting team more thoroughly. While dominant teams were well-known, newly promoted teams often flew under the radar. The gap between each tier of Chinese football was massive, making it hard for second-division teams to compete.
Because of the host's lack of preparation, Xu Yangxu took charge of introducing Shenyang FC. As they continued their discussion, a natural balance formed between the host's standard commentary and Xu's in-depth analysis.
"Shenyang FC changed ownership at the end of last season. Their new owner, Yang Feng, runs a major corporation. In just a few years, he built his company from the ground up and turned it into a publicly listed giant with major influence in Northeast China. Thanks to his business connections, he managed to secure young talents from various top clubs in the region. Aside from a few experienced veterans, the squad is made up entirely of players under 23, with seven of them under 21. It's truly a team of young warriors!"
"Ah, let's return to the action! SIPG with a slick passing move—Oscar at the top of the box—Wu Lei plays him through! Is this the moment? No! Shenyang FC's No. 5, Sun Peng, slides in with a crucial tackle! The ball goes out for a corner."
"This Sun Peng is a rising star. He's only 20 and has never been called up to the national youth team, but with his performances this season, the Olympic team coach believes he's more than capable of making the squad—possibly even as a starter. Credit must go to Shenyang FC's owner. He hired top-level youth coaches from Spain, the UK, and Germany to train the team. In fact, Sun Peng initially didn't impress the Spanish coach, but the British coach saw his potential!"
Xu Yangxu couldn't help but wonder how many talents had been overlooked in China's rigid youth system. Every coach had their own preferences, and a player who didn't fit one system might thrive in another. Sun Peng was lucky to have found the right mentor and club to develop him.
"Shenyang FC's owner is certainly making a statement—three top youth coaches? Even Super League clubs wouldn't spend that much on development. What do you think, Xu?"
"Absolutely. Most Super League teams spend tens of millions of euros on foreign head coaches, but they primarily rely on domestic coaches for youth training. Even hiring a single foreign youth coach would cost an extra million euros. But Shenyang FC has three, along with nutritionists, fitness trainers, and other support staff. The total investment exceeds 100 million RMB! And the results are showing—many of their players are already proving themselves."
"100 million? That's insane! In China, you could build a competitive League One team for just tens of millions. But this owner is investing everything into youth development just to compete in the second division. That's some serious dedication!"
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Back on the pitch, Oscar attempts another long shot—way over the bar! Thirty minutes in, SIPG has taken 11 shots, but only three have been on target. Two were blocked, and one was saved by the goalkeeper. Frustration is setting in, and they're resorting to long-range efforts. Xu, what do you think?"
"SIPG started with patient build-up, but now they're rushing things. That said, the visiting team's defensive structure has been excellent so far. Their 4-5-1 shape is compact, and they haven't made any major mistakes. But as their stamina drops, SIPG will get more and more chances."
"The key now is whether Shenyang FC can hold on until halftime or even 70 minutes. If they can keep the score at 0-0 by then, anything could happen. But if SIPG scores first, it's over."
Xu Yangxu admired these young players. Football in China needed fresh energy, and these underdogs were proving that hard work could shake up the system. If their performance helped more young players break through, then who cared about an upset?