Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Beijing Guoan 7th with 58 points, Guangzhou R&F 15th with 20, 38 apart. Guangzhou R&F ranked 9th in the league on five-round form, well above their 15th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Guangzhou R&F 0.85 scored and 1.88 conceded per game, Beijing Guoan 1.68 and 1.44, with the league averaging 1.43.
Beijing Guoan had not lost in 11 games.
5 meetings are on record — 1 won by Guangzhou R&F, 2 by Beijing Guoan, 2 drawn, at 3.8 goals per meeting. Hosting has counted for little in this fixture — the home side has won only 20% of those meetings. History points to goals: 80% of the meetings had three or more, and both sides scored in 60%.
Yuexiushan Stadium in Canton, capacity 29,860, hosted the game. Beijing Guoan led 2-0 at the break, and the second half added 1 goal for the 1-2 full-time score.