The football rivalry between Beijing and Tianjin possesses all the necessary components to make for an engrossing spectacle: geographic proximity, storied history and larger-than-life characters.

Steeped in local tradition, this feud is not for the faint-hearted and never fails to get tempers flaring on and off the pitch — the outrushing goalkeeper Shi Lianzhi's horrendous foul on Gao Feng, the coin thrown from the stands that brutally gashed assistant referee Li Fuchang's head, and the infamous battle at the Fengtai Sports Center in which both teams were embroiled in a mass brawl that saw multiple red cards and retrospective bans, the list goes on.

Though Beijing Guoan and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger tumbled from the top ranks in recent seasons, the level of intensity in this fixture shows no signs of easing up. And that was in evidence in this latest edition, even on the back of Beijing suffering such a rocky start to the campaign that Tianjin went into the encounter with a five-game unbeaten streak.

It was an accident-laden night, littered with blood-boiling tackles, and it gave a clear picture of why these sides are already playing catch-up to Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port in the top two positions of the Chinese Super League. It's unrealistic to expect them to emerge victorious in that pursuit.

Despite the absence of any real attacking cohesion, the game slowly developed into an engaging contest. Tianjin came flying out of the blocks and popped the ball around at will. But when Beijing made meaningful entries into the final third, the combinations between Zhang Xizhe, Kang Sang-Woo and Yang Liyu almost overwhelmed Yu Genwei's side.

Nevertheless, as Beijing struggled to create anything of a clear-cut note, Tianjin kept running behind their opponents' wobbling defensive line with both David Andujar and Farley Rosa coming mightily close to breaking the deadlock before the interval. The state of play on the field remained largely unchanged even after Ming Tian was handed a second yellow card for a deliberate handball after the hour mark.

Beijing had drawn both of their previous home games this season with only one goal to their names and they could not afford another reverse at their glitzy new stadium. But it was Tianjin who managed to liven up proceedings with a brilliant goal despite their numerical disadvantage.

Beijing's lack of focus will give most foes a chance and there was a sense of deja vu in the way they made an ill-judged pass inside their own half to lose possession and give Robert Beric the opportunity to feed Ba Dun, who unleashed a vicious shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.

For over 4,4000 Beijing supporters at the Worker's Stadium, which fell silent in horror, the disappointment was compounded by the fact that the strike came from one of their golden boys.

A prodigy at 19, Ba was promoted from Beijing Guoan's youth academy to the first team, where he would spend his next eight years. Regrettably, his progress fell short of what was expected in the Chinese capital. In January, he joined Tianjin on a permanent deal following an impressive season-long loan.

As emotions go, Ba couldn't have been more conflicted than he was on Wednesday. As his delirious teammates went wild around him, the 27-year-old opted not to celebrate his third goal of the season, instead he put his hands in the air as a sign of apology.

"Everything seems to have changed, yet the fans are still here. It's a familiar yet strange feeling, and I'm at a loss for words," the teary-eyed Ba told reporters after the game.

"I've hardly slept since last night, spending the whole night imagining how I would feel if I scored. When I did score today, I felt relatively calm. As I return to the Workers' Stadium again, it's clear that everyone is supporting me and hoping for my growth and improvement."

With so much riding on the night's result, Ba might have felt that this was a game he couldn't win, and it ended in stalemate. Beijing had wanted to harness the vibrancy of substitutes Piao Cheng, Yu Dabao, Fang Hao on the counterattack and they did so when Wang Ziming peeled off Han Pengfei and headed Wang Gang's inviting cross past keeper Xu Jiamin.

Proceedings crackled blazingly from there. Wang Gang, who reached 100 appearances for Beijing, sparked a huge melee involving both sets of players after appearing to intentionally elbow Beric. He escaped a red card following a VAR check. Beijing could even have won it when Yu found Wang Ziming unmarked on the left side of the box, only for Xu to smother Wang's shot.

Tianjin could be happier with the point as this draw kept their unbeaten run alive at six games and counting. Beijing, however, were left to count a potentially heavy cost. While this Guoan project under Stanley Menzo is still in its infancy a run of one wins from eight league games is far from satisfactory, particularly with this fiercely ambitious team so far off a place in the title race.

"I have to admit that our opponents outperformed us," observed Menzo during a press briefing. "Their defense and attacking organization demonstrated that they are a well-drilled team... The draw left me feeling really bad. We had plenty of opportunities to score, but we were lacking a bit of luck."

Meanwhile, team captain Yu Dabao has made a point of returning to the pitch long after the final whistle and addressed the remaining supporters through a loudspeaker, pleading for patience and assuring them that they will bounce back.

"Despite the team's best efforts, we were unable to secure a victory, and we feel remorseful for letting down all the fans in attendance," said Yu. "We fought tirelessly until the very end, but unfortunately, the result was not what we had hoped for."

"While the coach and captain bear responsibility for the poor outcome, we hope that you can recognize the team's dedication and perseverance... Although we face challenging circumstances, we will not give up. We will continue to give our all in the upcoming matches and strive for better results to repay your unwavering support."

In the end, the fans acknowledged their skipper's heartfelt message with rousing applause and cheers. Yet, everyone is acutely aware that returning the team to their former glory will be no easy feat.