On September 28, the 17th Foshan "La Liga" semi-finals kicked off with two exciting penalty shootout battles. In the first match, Team Juejun Building Materials won 7-6 against Zhanjiang Hotspots in a penalty shootout, while in the second match, Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum edged out Chengjun Hardware 6-5 in the penalty shootout. Ultimately, Team Juejun Building Materials and Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum advanced to the finals. Journalists from various media outlets in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing, gathered in Foshan to witness this thrilling event.

Zhanjiang Hotspots' player was seen dribbling the ball. (Photo by Wang Shu)

The first semi-final match took place between Team Juejun Building Materials and Zhanjiang Hotspots. In the first half, at the 26th minute, Zhanjiang Hotspots' player, Number 68, made a decisive low shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the ball hit the inside of the post before entering the net. Zhanjiang Hotspots took the lead with a 1-0 advantage, which they maintained until the end of the first half.

Journalists from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area witnessed this exciting event. (Photo by Huang Sai)

Team Juejun Building Materials faced off against Zhanjiang Hotspots in a rainy battle. (Photo by Li Dong)

In the second semi-final match that evening, Chengjun Hardware and Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum battled in heavy rain. In the 13th minute, Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum launched an attack from the right side of the field, and a player skillfully chipped the ball over an opponent's foot before pushing it into the net, giving Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum a 1-0 lead. In the 74th minute, Chengjun Hardware's player number 43 scored with a header, equalizing the score, which they maintained until the end of the match. In the penalty shootout, Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum advanced to the finals with a 6-5 victory over Chengjun Hardware.

He Yi from Dongguan News Network mentioned that Dongguan, known for its basketball culture, has embraced sports events like "Factory Basketball" and "Village Basketball," creating a vibrant atmosphere. In contrast, Foshan's "La Liga" event consistently draws massive crowds of over ten thousand spectators in every game, thanks to the local government's support and robust promotion of football. Football has become deeply integrated into the lives of Foshan citizens, and with strong public support, the event's future looks promising.

Chengjun Hardware competed against Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum in the semi-finals. (Photo provided by Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum)

Chengjun Hardware and Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum battled in the rain during the semi-finals. (Photo provided by Guangdong Fenglu Aluminum)

Liu Jie from Zhongshan Network described the enthusiastic atmosphere at the event. He praised the event as it evolved from a district-level competition to a city-level sensation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He highlighted the competition's innovative and surprising elements, emphasizing its potential to bring economic benefits to Foshan in the realm of culture, tourism, and sports.

Zhu Weijiang, a reporter from Southcn, commended the exciting matches and the event's ability to showcase the value of "Sports + Culture." The event not only used sports as a platform but also featured a beer festival and diverse local cuisine, attracting numerous tourists from the Greater Bay Area. As a result, Foshan's "La Liga" event has become a window for cultural exhibition.

Reporter | Lynn

Revisor | Christy, Eddie

Photo丨Foshan News Network