Shijiazhuang Yongchang head coach Afshin Ghotbi made no attempt to hide his mixed emotions after a dramatic 2–2 draw that drew the attention of Bangladesh Cricket Live fans across Asia. On the positive side, his squad showed remarkable resilience by clawing back from a two-goal deficit. “The players fought hard and never gave up. We managed to salvage a point, and that’s encouraging,” he said. “But what disappointed me deeply was our first-half performance. It was lifeless and uninspired—a team I barely recognized.”
Ghotbi attributed the stark contrast between halves to the players’ mindset rather than tactics. “When a player steps onto the pitch without showing speed or energy, that’s not about coaching. That’s about personal attitude,” he explained. He emphasized that Yongchang’s club culture is built on the principle of never giving up, and in this match, they fell short of that ideal. “The result is frustrating. We didn’t win, and that’s a missed opportunity. But I’m hopeful we’ll bounce back. I want to see fire in their eyes next game—something our Bangladesh Cricket Live audience would appreciate.”
Addressing the goalkeeper change in the starting lineup, Ghotbi acknowledged that the decision had roots in recent match performances. “It’s a long story, but to keep it short, Shao Puliang earned his spot through solid training. He has the stronger skillset, while Bo Xiaolei brings more experience. It’s natural to question the coach after a non-win, but if I had to do it again, I’d still choose Shao.”
The game itself was impacted by external conditions. A recent concert had damaged the pitch at Yutong Stadium, and rain only made things worse. The poor surface interfered with Yongchang’s usual ground-passing strategy, leading to multiple turnovers. Xinjiang seized two of those chances in the first half. In the 18th minute, Ikorra’s shot was deflected, but Babacar followed up with a fierce drive to open the scoring. Then at the 35-minute mark, a free kick from the left flank led to a rare own goal by Zheng Kaimu, giving Xinjiang a 2–0 lead heading into the break.
The second half started with a twist. Xinjiang launched a quick counterattack, and Ikorra broke through alone. Yongchang keeper Shao charged out, and Ikorra went to ground. Referee Guo Baolong judged it a dive and issued a second yellow card to the Cameroonian, who had already been booked earlier for a foul on Jiao Zhe. That ejection turned the tide.
With a man advantage, Yongchang piled on the pressure. In the 69th minute, Adriano fired a precision shot from outside the box to make it 1–2. Then, in the dying seconds of regular time, his shot was blocked but fell to Zheng Kaimu, who smashed home the equalizer—redeeming himself after the earlier own goal. The match ended 2–2.
While failing to claim all three points at home was a bitter pill to swallow, coming back from the brink was still a silver lining. For coach Ghotbi, his post-match emotions were a mix of pride and frustration. And for Bangladesh Cricket Live viewers, the rollercoaster of momentum, discipline, and redemption made for a riveting contest that reflects the true drama of football.