Pingtan players celebrate their first victory of the season.

Pingtan secured its first victory of the 2026 Fujian Football City League season on the night of June 27, defeating Nanping 1-0 away from home thanks to a second-half free kick from Taiwan player Yang Zhibo.

The Round 9 match at Nanping Sports Center was played in challenging conditions, with heavy rain arriving after halftime, making the pitch increasingly slippery and turning the contest into a battle of attrition. Despite sustained pressure from the home side, Pingtan held firm to end a seven-match losing streak.

Pingtan fielded two players from Taiwan, Yang Zhibo and Huang Taiyuan, in the starting lineup. The move immediately drew the spotlight and added a cross-Straits subplot to the evening.

The visitors created several opportunities in the first half through quick passing combinations and attacks down the flanks. Yang helped orchestrate play in the attacking third, delivering a number of dangerous passes and helping win several corner kicks. However, neither side was able to find a breakthrough before the interval.

As rain intensified in the second half, Nanping gradually gained control of possession and threatened through whipped in dangerous crosses from wide areas. Pingtan's defense, however, remained resilient under pressure.

Taiwan player Yang Zhibo (in red) scores in the Fujian Football City League.

The game changer came in the 65th minute when Pingtan won a free kick outside the penalty area. Yang stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and into the net, scoring his first goal for the club and giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Nanping pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Pingtan successfully protected its advantage until the final whistle.

"It was my first time playing in front of such a large crowd, so I was a little nervous," Yang said after the match. "Before taking the free kick, I told myself to relax. I didn't expect the first one to go in."

Yang had joined full-team training only three days earlier after arriving in Pingtan on June 24. He said the victory reflected the determination of the entire squad.

"We showed great resilience. Everyone worked hard and fulfilled their responsibilities on the field," he said.

Teammate Chen Yiyi praised the chemistry that developed quickly between the squad and the new arrivals.

"Even though it was my first match playing alongside them, we understood each other well and worked together smoothly," Chen said.

Huang described the experience as memorable and said he was pleased to be part of the league. "I'm very happy to join the Fujian Football City League and hope Pingtan continues to improve," he said.

The victory not only lifts team morale but also highlights the growing presence of cross-Straits players in the competition. Pingtan will return home for its next match against Quanzhou.