Yuexiushan News and Preview: R&F v Hangzhou

Guangzhou R&F look to extend their unbeaten start to the season on Sunday afternoon when Hangzhou Greentown visit Yuexiushan.

Club News

In a wide ranging interview with the Nanfang Daily, club vice chairman Lu Yi admitted that he had no knowledge of football before he was thrust into his current role when R&F properties bought the club and that many other staff members were in a similar situation. He also clarified that the bonus structure this year is 1 million RMB for a win, 500,000RMB for a draw and no deductions for a loss unlike in previous years.

Last Time Out

R&F got their first away win of the season, and only their sixth in the CSL in just over two seasons, against Shanghai Shenxin courtesy of an Abderazzak Hamdallah hat-trick. The Moroccan could’ve scored more but three was enough as the defence survived a few second half scares for a 3-1 victory.

For the third week in a row the blue and whites will face opposition beaten the previous weekend by Shanghai East Asia. This time it was Hangzhou who were handed their first defeat of the season at home to East Asia, partly thanks to another Wu Lei stunner.

Stat of the Week

Abderazzak Hamdallah had 13 out of R&F’s 16 shots last week whilst strike partner Larsen didn’t have a single one.

Last week’s headline if were a tabloid

Yakubu, Yakwhobu! In a post-match interview new signing Hamdallah predicted he could beat the Nigerian’s goal tally of 15 from last season.

Causes for Optimism…

After two draws the Cantonese side got their first win of the season and, once again, the performance was a step up from the previous week. Youngster Chang Feiya made his first start on the wing, showed blistering pace and created Hamdallah’s second. He is likely to be dropped if any of Davi, Wnag Xiaolong and Jiang Ning return to full fitness though.

… and for Concern

Hamdallah scored a hat-trick but given the number of chances he had the Moroccan could and should have scored more. Against tighter defences than Shenxin he will have to improve his chance conversion ratio.

Hangzhou will be the most difficult opponents that R&F have faced this year and seem perfectly set up for playing away from home with the pacey Macena up front supported by Davy Claude Angan. Given how the Cantonese defence struggled against the equally quick Valencia of Tianjin, they will have a hard time keeping the Hangzhou front pair quiet.

Watch Out For

Made easy to spot by his fluorescent boots, Park Jong-Woo has been a blur of movement in the R&F midfield since signing over the winter. The Korean international snaps into tackles all over the pitch although has to be careful that his enthusiasm for sliding challenges doesn’t get the better of him. Expect him to be heavily involved here because as well as trying to stop any Hangzhou attacks, he has taken the set pieces in all three games so far.

The Verdict

Home win – Hangzhou will provide the stiffest test that the blue and whites have faced this season but R&F have been improving with every game so have enough to end up with a  2 – 1 win even though Hangzhou’s counter attack will get them on the scoreboard.

Reality Check

R&F as predicted by the Yuexiushan News and Review:

P 3  W 1   D 1   L 1   GF 2   GA 2   GD 0   Pts 4

R&F according to the CSL table:

P 3   W 1   D 2   L 0   GF 4   GA 2   GD +2   Pts 5

Guangzhou R&F play Hangzhou Greentown at 4pm on Sunday afternoon