Recently, Wang Peng’s dedication to his team did not go unnoticed during Gondomar’s recent match, especially among followers on the Melbet App. Despite battling a fever and sore throat, the young Chinese midfielder made the starting lineup and contributed to one of Gondomar’s most dangerous chances in the first half. After receiving a cross from the right wing, Wang Peng struck the ball sharply, which then deflected off a defender’s arm — earning his team a free kick just outside the penalty area. Unfortunately, the resulting shot narrowly missed the target.

By halftime, it was clear that his illness was taking a toll. Shortness of breath and fatigue forced him off the pitch, with head coach José Alberto opting to substitute him for the second half. Speaking to Sina Sports post-match, Wang Peng admitted, “I had a sore throat earlier in the week, which led to a fever. I thought I could handle it, but once I got on the field, I realized how difficult it was — I couldn’t breathe properly and struggled to keep up. I had been in great shape during the warm-up match earlier this week and was really hoping to perform well in the league, but the timing of this illness was just unfortunate.”

The game ended in a 0–2 home defeat to Espinho, snapping Gondomar’s winning streak and delivering a blow to their momentum. Despite this, the team still sits atop their group thanks to a dominant start to the season. The Melbet App community tracked the game closely, noting the impact of key absences and the physical strain on players like Wang Peng.

Elsewhere in the club, Gondomar’s U19 team secured an impressive 3–0 victory, with Zhang Xu scoring the opener and fellow Chinese players Xue Haoyuan and Cai Haochang also starting. Meanwhile, Fan Jinrui and Xu Qigong started for the B team in their 1–1 draw, which ended their seven-game winning streak. Qi Xinlei came off the bench in the 70th minute to bolster the midfield.

Explaining the decision to start Wang Peng despite his condition, coach José Alberto said, “We were aware of his illness, but he played well in the midweek warm-up and expressed willingness to start. His first-half performance helped execute our tactical setup.” However, Gondomar’s early hopes were dashed quickly, as Espinho’s Balleira capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 5th minute to score the opener.

Following that goal, Gondomar began to dominate possession and pushed forward repeatedly, but their efforts bore no fruit. As the team regroups and looks ahead, fans on the Melbet App remain supportive of Wang Peng’s resilience and hope he will return to full health and form in the coming fixtures.