The first-leg clash between Yancheng and Suqian in the “Suchao” knockout stage was a thrilling battle, full of drama and excitement. Suqian, buoyed by its second-place finish in the regular-season standings, came charging onto the pitch with the swagger of a conquering force. Yancheng, meanwhile, stood firm with the composure and resilience embodied by the thousand-year-old Fanggong Dike. Both teams displayed not only solid technical skills and tactical acumen on the pitch, but also the fighting spirit to persevere against the odds and the determination to defend their cities’ honor. Their performances deserve applause—and give us even more reason to look forward to what comes next. As the saying goes, “Win or lose, life goes on; the only thing to do is pick yourself up and start all over again!”

We have witnessed some unforgettable displays in these stands: the “Hou Yi Shoots Down the Suns” Tifo, depicting the legendary archer drawing his bow and preparing to fire; a giant jersey Tifo that bathed the home stands in a sea of red; the “Three Auspicious Treasures” Tifo, featuring fans dressed in team jerseys cheering on their hometown side; and the “Eastern Kenya” Tifo, unfolding like a magnificent scroll across time and space. Most moving of all was the Tifo held aloft by tens of thousands of hands, beneath which Liu Jiawei gently touched the word “Yancheng” over his heart, creating a poignant echo of the words “WE ARE YANCHENG.”

With their “I ❤️ YC” message, Yancheng’s fans filled the stands with pride in their hometown and brought the spirit and vitality of the entire city into its home stadium.