18 shots, 0 goals, loss to Qingdao Hainiu serves as a wake-up call for Henan team

Report by Lu Mi In the CSL, Henan team suffered an unexpected defeat, losing 0-1 away to Qingdao Hainiu, who ranks second-to-last in the league. This match not only cost the team a good chance to gain points but also exposed dual problems of low offensive efficiency and defensive system vulnerabilities. Coach Ramos's post-match comments directly pointed to the core issues in both attack and defense. Despite 18 shots, 14 free kicks, and 9 corner kicks, no goal was scored; the foreign attackers collectively underperformed, and being defeated by the opponent's tactics—all these serve as a wake-up call for Henan team. More critically, the team's fluctuating form, capable of beating the defending champion yet losing to the second-to-last team, is perplexing.

In this match, Henan team dominated the offensive aspect, unleashing 18 shots but failing to score any goal. Such offensive inefficiency became the direct reason for the loss. As Ramos stated in the post-match press conference, the team controlled the game in the first half, with Medana and Mumbala creating two excellent scoring opportunities, but the players failed to capitalize. Hesitant decision-making in the attacking third repeatedly cost the team chances to change the score. In the second half, although the team suppressed the opponent and even pushed Lucas forward to strengthen the attack, no goal was achieved. The 18 shots ultimately became meaningless statistics, and the low efficiency in attack was astonishing.

The collective underperformance of the foreign attackers is a key reason for Henan's offensive silence. As the core reliance of the team's attack, Gustavo and Mumbala both received the lowest ratings in this match. Whether in ball advancement or finishing, their performances fell far below expectations, causing the team's offensive system to lose its core support. Ramos admitted: "The team needs to do better in the final decision-making of attacks. This requires players to improve their on-field judgment, and the frontline core needs to regain form quickly to lead the team's offense again."

Additionally, the team's set-piece tactics were ineffective in this match. As the team with the most set-piece goals last season, Henan failed to create substantial threats from set-piece opportunities in this game. Despite targeted training on set-pieces during the week, all 14 free kicks and 9 corner kicks were wasted. Multiple offensive problems intertwined, leaving Henan with dominant play but unable to convert it into victory, ultimately resulting in an away loss.

If low offensive efficiency is the direct cause of the loss, then being countered and conceding a goal exposes deeper issues that Henan has shown since last season. Ramos also said: "Henan focuses on transition play, but ended up being countered multiple times by the opponent." The conceded goal against Hainiu resembled the three goals conceded in the FA Cup final against Beijing Guoan last season and the goal conceded in the previous round against Wuhan Three Towns—all resulted from being caught on counterattacks. The old defensive problems remain unresolved. In the second half, when the game was tight, Henan should have stabilized defensively, but instead allowed the opponent to score a winning goal on a counter. This conceding method highlights vulnerabilities in the defensive system and insufficient awareness in retreating.

In recent years, Henan has never positioned itself as a strong team, especially away games, where solid defense should be prioritized. This match clearly showed neglect in defensive stability, costing the team due to tactical choices. Issues like lack of concentration in defense, slow retreat speed, and insufficient midfield interception repeatedly allowed opponents to break through. The coaching staff must promptly summarize and address these problems to avoid repeated failures in the same areas.

Compared to specific issues in attack and defense, the team's form has shown significant fluctuations in recent rounds, which must be taken seriously. In the season opener, the team defeated defending champion Shanghai Port, and in the second round, secured three points to clear negative scores. The bright start showed the team's potential to fans. However, unexpectedly, after consecutive wins, the team's performance quickly dipped. The next two matches were mediocre, and this round even saw a loss to second-to-last Qingdao Hainiu. The team's overall form did not improve with磨合 but declined early, with competitive state and tactical execution significantly weakened.

The season is a long journey. Major fluctuations in form not only affect the team's ranking but also damage player confidence and disrupt the tactical system. This away loss to Qingdao Hainiu undoubtedly serves as a wake-up call for Henan and Coach Ramos. On one hand, offensive tactics need refinement to enhance players' chance-conversion ability, helping foreign attackers regain form quickly. On the other hand, defense must be tightened to solve the recurring problem of being countered.