The evening of September 6, Shenyang Olympic Sports Center.
In the second round of the Asian Qualifiers Round 12 for the World Cup, China hosted Iran.
Before the match, China Team, dressed in their red home jerseys and led by captain Zheng Zhi, walked out through the players' tunnel to a thunderous welcome from the fans in attendance—especially Yang Yang, who had just scored a hat-trick in Seoul, South Korea, helping the National Football Team come from behind to defeat Korea away.
The stands were packed, and banners and slogans for Yang Yang could be seen everywhere.
Especially when the national anthem began to play, every fan in the stadium stood up in unison and sang loudly alongside the players. The stirring anthem made everyone's blood run hot.
Iran was no weak side, but China Team was no pushover either.
Yang Yang started the match as the team's lone striker, while China Team continued to use a 4-5-1 formation.
Under Yang Yang's threat and deterrence—and especially with Korea's 3–1 comeback victory in the previous match as a warning—Iran Team dared not be careless. Playing away from home, they adopted a cautious, steady approach from the opening whistle.
China Team also played patiently, without blindly overestimating themselves and pushing forward recklessly.
That was also a sign of a team's maturity.
The match was rather uneventful. Iran deployed heavy forces around Yang Yang, with at least two players flanking him at all times, afraid that one moment of carelessness would see them repeat Korea's fate. This placed a certain amount of restraint on China Team's attack.
The first half ultimately ended 0–0. After the sides switched ends, however, Iran Team pushed their formation farther forward, increasing the intensity of their pressing in midfield and attack. Clearly dissatisfied with the current situation, they