Century-Old Elite Schools Cup | No Substitutes, "Small Battling Big": Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School's Last-Minute Equalizer Showcases "Sichuan Football Spirit"

Reported by Lu Mi from Zhidan In the opening group match of the primary school division at the "Century-Old Elite Schools Football Elite Exchange Tournament" in Zhidan County, the short-handed Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School, despite a huge physical disadvantage, battled hard until the last minute and finally achieved a dramatic equalizer. The moment touched the hearts of the coaches and players. Their participation in this event marks the second major tournament they have joined this summer, with the children and coaches having spent over 20 days away from home. Yet, their love for the game made them forget the fatigue and overcome the temporary shortage of players. On this red revolutionary land, the coaches also hope that the children's spirit of never giving up and fighting tenaciously will align perfectly with the red spirit passed down by revolutionary ancestors, making the journey truly worthwhile.

To participate in the "Century-Old Elite Schools Cup Football Elite Exchange Tournament" in Zhidan County, Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School traveled day and night, arriving in batches. Earlier, they had been playing national competitions in Kunming, and they reached Zhidan late on the night of the 10th. The next morning, after the opening ceremony, they faced the host team in the opening match. The first group to arrive had only eight players, meaning the coach had no substitutes available for this crucial game.

Apart from the lack of player options, the children of Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School also had physical disadvantages compared to the northwestern Zhidan Primary School, making the first match extremely challenging. However, head coach Wang Dingyu remained calm on the sidelines, directing the game. He said, "Boys in Sichuan generally don't have much of a physical advantage in football, but fortunately, our school team has been used to playing 'small against big' since childhood. We often face teams with better physical conditions when traveling for competitions. Therefore, our daily training emphasizes teamwork and the refinement of individual ball skills."

It was precisely this philosophy and daily commitment that allowed the Yingbin Road Primary School children to avoid falling behind through coordinated team defense and outstanding goalkeeping in this difficult match. In the second-to-last minute, they finally equalized, with the final score locked at 1-1.

To all the players, this draw might have brought more joy than a victory. Through this match, Wang Dingyu saw the children's resilience and team spirit in the face of numerous real-world difficulties and a score deficit.

This was the first time Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School participated in the Zhidan tournament. Wang Dingyu said, "We really want to experience the football styles of different regions by competing against teams from across the country. Especially since this team has reached the stage where physical confrontation needs to be strengthened, coming to Zhidan allows us to identify and fill gaps."

Because the team arrived in Zhidan late on the night of the 10th, they missed the red study tour at Yan'an Yangjialing that day. However, they will take part in the subsequent local red study activities in Zhidan. The coaching staff hopes that the team's spirit of never giving up and supporting each other during the matches can be further elevated on this red land. This is also the educational philosophy that Chengdu Yingbin Road Primary School has upheld through years of historical accumulation in developing campus football.

As a national model school for campus football, Yingbin Road Primary School has long prioritized universal participation and character cultivation. More than the outcome on the field, the school values the resilience and willpower that football imparts to children. This long journey to Zhidan, with the intense consecutive cross-city matches and the real challenge of a player shortage in the first game, serves as the most authentic lesson for the children's growth.

"Football teaches children far more than just dribbling and shooting. Our Sichuan boys have always had a spirit of never bowing when behind and never retreating when outnumbered. We have always believed that this is the most precious gift competitive sports can give to children as they grow up," said Wang Dingyu. With the arrival of the rest of the main players who reached Zhidan from Kunming late last night, the team will continue to focus on their own game and respect every opponent in the upcoming group matches. Regardless of the final tournament results, being able to experience a different football atmosphere on this red land and integrate the fighting spirit cultivated in training with the spiritual strength of red culture—so that the children can see and feel something meaningful—will be the greatest gain of this trip.