Henan FC 3-4 Beijing Guoan: Seven-Goal Thriller Sends Guoan Into Continental Race

Beijing Guoan produced a dramatic 4-3 away victory over Henan FC in the Chinese Super League on 24 October 2026, winning a breathless contest at Hanghai Stadium that swung one way and then the other before the visitors finally seized control in the closing stages. The result strengthens Guoan’s push for AFC Champions League qualification and leaves Henan FC with painful questions about the defensive lapses that turned a promising afternoon into a costly defeat.

For neutrals, it was the sort of Chinese Super League match that justifies the league’s reputation for open, high-tempo football. Seven goals, a penalty, a VAR review, several lead changes, and a late winner made it a compelling spectacle from the first whistle to the last. For Henan, however, the entertainment value will matter little after a home defeat that exposed the fragility of their back line when pressed aggressively.

Match overview: Henan start brightly, Guoan respond

Henan began with intent, pressing high and forcing Beijing Guoan into early mistakes at the back. The home side’s wing-backs pushed forward at every opportunity, and the first real chance arrived inside five minutes when Liu Xinyu cut in from the left and forced a smart low save from the Guoan goalkeeper.

The breakthrough came in the 14th minute. A quick turnover in midfield released Liu Xinyu again, and the Henan winger drove into the box before firing a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. Hanghai Stadium erupted, and for a brief spell it looked as though the home side might take control of the contest.

Beijing Guoan responded with the composure of a side chasing a top-three finish. Their midfield began to find pockets of space between Henan’s lines, and in the 27th minute the equaliser arrived. A deep cross from the right was met by Zhang Yuning, whose header looped beyond the reach of the Henan goalkeeper and into the net.

Key moments: VAR, penalties and a late twist

Henan regained the lead in the 39th minute after a VAR review awarded a penalty for a handball inside the Guoan area. Captain Chen Haoyu stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, restoring the home side’s advantage and raising the noise levels once more.

The lead lasted only until first-half stoppage time. Guoan worked the ball neatly down the left, and Cao Yongjing arrived late in the box to sweep a first-time finish into the bottom corner. It was a goal that changed the mood at the interval and gave the visitors a platform to build on.

Guoan emerged for the second half with greater control. In the 58th minute they took the lead for the first time. Fábio Abreu held off his marker on the edge of the area, turned sharply, and drilled a low effort inside the near post. Henan’s defenders appealed for a foul in the build-up, but the referee waved play on.

To their credit, Henan did not fold. A double substitution injected fresh energy, and in the 72nd minute substitute Wang Ziyi levelled at 3-3 after a goalmouth scramble. The ball fell kindly to him six yards out, and he stabbed it home to set up a frantic final period.

The decisive moment came in the 84th minute. Guoan won a corner on the right, and the delivery was met by Zhang Yuning, who powered a header past the goalkeeper for his second goal of the afternoon. Henan pushed bodies forward in the closing minutes, but Guoan managed the game professionally and saw out four minutes of stoppage time.

Tactical story: transitions decide a seven-goal contest

The match was defined by transitions. Henan’s aggressive 3-4-3 shape caused problems early on, especially when their wing-backs isolated Guoan’s full-backs in wide areas. But the same attacking intent left space behind the defensive line, and Guoan’s midfielders repeatedly exploited it with vertical passes into the channels.

Beijing Guoan’s 4-2-3-1 became more effective as the game wore on. Their double pivot protected the back four, while the front four rotated constantly to drag Henan’s centre-backs out of position. Zhang Yuning’s movement in the box was particularly difficult to handle, and his brace proved the difference in a match where both defences struggled.

Henan will point to individual errors rather than structural collapse. Two of Guoan’s goals came from set-piece situations, and the third arrived after a failure to close down Fábio Abreu on the edge of the box. In a game of fine margins, those moments were decisive.

Standout players

• Zhang Yuning (Beijing Guoan): Two goals, including the late winner, and a constant aerial threat. His hold-up play also helped Guoan relieve pressure in the second half.
• Fábio Abreu (Beijing Guoan): Scored the crucial third goal and occupied Henan’s centre-bac