Beijing Guoan Have Never Feared the AFC Champions League: Beyond the Snowy Night Win Over Kawasaki, Which Classic Moments Do You Remember?

On September 15, Beijing Guoan will host their opening AFC Champions League Elite match at Workers' Stadium, with Korean powerhouse Pohang Steelers as the opponent.

After five years, Guoan have returned to the highest-level AFC Champions League stage. The last time Guoan played in the top-tier AFC Champions League was in 2021, while their last AFC Champions League match at Workers' Stadium was in 2019. Seven years have passed since the AFC Champions League anthem was last heard at Workers' Stadium.

But Guoan have never been afraid when playing in the AFC Champions League.

On that snowy night in 2010, Guoan won on Japanese soil.

On March 9, 2010, Kawasaki, Japan, was covered by heavy snow. Guoan faced Kawasaki Frontale away from home, and before the match few people believed the Chinese team could leave the home ground of the Japanese runners-up unbeaten. Before that, Guoan had an awkward record of zero away wins against Japanese teams in the AFC Champions League.

But everything changed that night. Substitute Wang Changqing scored twice in the 65th and 86th minutes, while Joel Griffiths also found the net. Guoan defeated Kawasaki Frontale 3-1, securing their first away victory over a Japanese team since 1997.

More than 30 Guoan fans who traveled with the team witnessed the victory in the heavy snow in Kawasaki. One media report after the match wrote: “Guoan delivered timely support for Chinese football in the snow, and fans felt the warmth of spring.”

In 2013, Guoan earned their first point and first victory against a Korean team.

In the 2013 AFC Champions League group stage, Guoan played away against Pohang Steelers. Xu Yunlong made a flying clearance on the goal line to keep a clean sheet, and the match ended 0-0. It was the first time in Guoan's AFC Champions League history that they had earned points against a Korean team.

Back at Workers' Stadium, Guoan defeated Pohang Steelers 2-0, securing their first victory over a Korean team. Both opponents in those two matches were Pohang.

Guoan have faced Pohang Steelers twice in the AFC Champions League proper, recording one win and one draw without defeat. Among their group opponents, Pohang have the best head-to-head record against Guoan.

In 2015, Guoan finished top of their group for the first time in club history.

That year, Guoan were grouped with Suwon Samsung, Urawa Red Diamonds and Brisbane Roar. In the first three group matches, Guoan defeated all three opponents and conceded no goals during their three-game winning streak.

In the final group match away against Suwon Samsung, Dejan's goal helped Guoan draw 1-1 and finish above Suwon Samsung to advance as group winners. This was the first time in Guoan's seven AFC Champions League campaigns that they had reached the knockout stage as group leaders.

In 2020, there was the jersey printed with “Wuhan Jiayou.”

On February 18, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading. When Guoan played away against Thailand's Chiangrai United, the players' jerseys displayed not a sponsor name on the chest, but four Chinese characters: “Wuhan Jiayou.”

To print those four characters, Guoan club staff traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers back and forth locally in Thailand to find a printing factory. After receiving approval from the AFC and the Chinese Football Association, they temporarily replaced the chest advertisement on the jerseys.

In that match, Guoan defeated Chiangrai United 1-0. The traveling Guoan supporters displayed a “Wuhan Jiayou” banner in the stands. The significance of the match had long gone beyond the result itself.

This year, the story is ready to continue.

September 15, Workers' Stadium, AFC Champions League opening match.

Guoan attach great importance to this season's AFC Champions League. With relatively less pressure in the Chinese Super League, the club as a whole will devote 100% effort to the AFC Champions League campaign. As Chinese Super League teams return to Asian competition, Guoan hope to change outside perceptions of Chinese teams' competitiveness in the AFC Champions League.

This is not an ordinary match, but a “proof match” for representing the country.

Seven years have passed, and the AFC Champions League anthem at Workers' Stadium should be heard again.

(Ticket information: Tickets for this match are now on sale. Please follow Beijing Guoan Football Club's official channels for purchasing information.)