Jianghan University’s men’s football team began its 2025 Wuhan City Football Super League (University Group) season with a 1-0 away win against Wuhan City Polytechnic.
The 2025 Wuhan City Football Super League (referred to as "Wuhan Super League") adopts a dual-track competition system: an Urban Group and a University Group. In the urban gourp, over a month of fierce competition has produced champions in the three major divisions of Hankou, Wuchang, and Hanyang. The urban overall urban champion will be determined next. The Unversity Group is contested by eight teams, including Jianghan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan University of Technology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan City Polytechnic, and Wuchang Polytechnic College，competing in a home-and-away single round-robin format.
The away game against Wuhan City Polytechnic was a tough test for Jianghan University as many key players, including former national team member Jiang Minwen (Class of 2022), were sidelined due to injuries. Straight from kick-off the home side took advantage of their home advantage to launch a counterattack, creating a one-on-one scoring chance. Goalkeeper Chen Yuxuan, who played despite an injury, rushed off his line decisively to defuse the danger. Subsequently, Jianghan University gradually gained control of the game with its technical superiority, frequently launching attacks through the gaps on the opponent's flanks. However, they failed to break through the defensive line, keeping the game suspenseful until the second half.
The halftime break saw head coach Wei Dongqiang deliver a pep talk, urging, "Be more confident and decisive – you’ve got this!" Meanwhile, he shuffled his pack, sending on players such as No. 9 Xiang Tingfeng, No. 6 Xie Wenjun, and No. 16 Fan Lengfeng to strengthen the flank offense.
This tactical adjustment yielded immediate results. Barely a minute into the second half, No. 7 Yang Tongfei received the ball on the flank, made consecutive breakthroughs to draw marking from multiple opposing defenders, and then delivered a precise diagonal pass. No. 9 Xiang Tingfeng, who perfectly anticipated the pass, made a late overlapping run to form a one-on-one opportunity against the opponent’s goalkeeper. He calmly slotted the ball into the net, updating the score to 1-0. This goal greatly boosted the team’s confidence, and they proceeded to dominate, creating a string of chances in front of goal, but all attempts narrowly missed the target, leaving the lead unchanged.
Unwilling to accept defeat, Wuhan City Polytechnic made frequent substitutions and launched a fierce counterattack in the final moments of the game, continuously exerting pressure through corner kicks, long-range shots, and flank crosses. At this critical stage, Jianghan University’s players showed extraordinary resilience, defusing goalmouth crises through timely blocks and steals. Just before the final whistle, Wuhan City Polytechnic was awarded a free kick in an excellent position at the top of the penalty area. The ball curved beautifully and flew straight toward the bottom-left corner of the goal – but Chen Yuxuan, who had performed brilliantly throughout the game, made a diving save to preserve the hard-earned victory. This tenacity mirror the spirit that defines Jianghan University football— from the women’s team’s five consecutive championships to the men’s historic third-place finish in the provincial league, its players have always embodied the sportsmanship of "never giving up" on the green pitch.
After the game, head coach Wei Dongqiang stated in an interview: "Winning an away game is never easy. The players not only demonstrated solid technical and tactical skills but also withstood immense psychological pressure – this is a victory of teamwork." The decisive contribution came from substitute Xiang Tingfeng, who was deservedly named Man of the Match. He attributed his goal mainly to his teammate Yang Tongfei’s sharp breakthroughs and precise assist, reflecting the football spirit of unity, collaboration, and tenacious struggle that defines Jianghan University’s players.
Jianghan University’s team will play at home against the strong opponent Wuhan Sports University on the afternoon of October 9. All faculty and students are invited to pack the stands and cheer our team on to victory.
By Sun Yehong, Qu Yixuan, Yi Jun and Li Sha
