On the afternoon of October 1, the Guangdong Zhaoqing Jinli Chengjun team faced Brazil's Galáxia United FC in a thrilling "Global Village" football friendly. Despite a narrow 2-3 loss, Jinli's tenacious play earned respect throughout the stadium, showcasing how sports foster cultural exchange.
Under the scorching sun, the match opened at a high tempo. Just 12 minutes in, Jinli's key player, Chen Youzhi, sustained a head injury and exited for treatment, presenting an early challenge for the team.
Despite this adversity, Jinli showed resilience. In the 30th minute, fullback He Zhikun (#19) struck on a counterattack to open the scoring. At halftime, Chen—freshly stitched from his injury—sent a video message from the medical room, lifting the team's morale.
The friendly highlighted football's passion and its role as a bridge for cultural exchange. In the second half, Galáxia United's skill and teamwork secured two quick goals to take the lead.
Jinli never relented, pressing hard and seeking chances until the final whistle. Although the score remained unchanged, their perseverance earned loud applause. The match concluded in a warm atmosphere as players embraced, embodying the spirit of "friendship first, competition second."
Reporter | Wang Junxin, Lin Lin
Photo | Jinli Town
Editor | Tong Hua, Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
