Was this a point to be relished, or another duel best forgotten? By the end, it was difficult to recall the last time a 1-1 stalemate had offered so many histrionics and fracas. The latest instalment of one of Chinese football's fiercest rivalries was unquestionably intoxicating but dishearteningly unsavory undertones writ large as a volley of invective was hurled at the referee, with tackles flying and tempers fraying.

Both Beijing Guoan and the defending champions Wuhan Three Towns contributed to a full-blooded, stimulating encounter at a raucous Workers' Stadium. Both head coaches also freshened things up after midweek defeats by making several alterations to the teams who started in Meizhou and Shanghai.

The showdown was as evenly matched as expected, though the hosts were noticeably more audacious in their passing. They played some coruscating football on a broiling night and could have been out of reach at half‑time, by which point Fang Hao had given them the lead. But a moment of heedlessness let Wuhan back in and suggested that, while Beijing's current crop of young prospects have maintained their upward curve, they are far from the finished article.

It was an occasion that was colored by deafening roars and touchy feistiness, and shaped by mental fortitude. After a tumultuous start in which Wuhan, missing Wei Shihao and Ren Hang due to suspensions, zipped the ball around and came close when Han Jiaqi saved from Davidson for the first time, the hosts began to discover some cohesion and their goal blew the game wide open.

It came on the counter, like much of Beijing's early flourish, and was excellently conceived. Fang began and ended the move, supplying Arijan Ademi on the right wing then moving forward to accept a perfectly weighted return pass, before scrambling the ball home from close range.

As the game wore on, the mood on the pitch became more charged and intense. Beijing captain Yu Dabao could consider himself more than fortunate to have remained on the pitch after a shocking two-footed tackle on Davidson. His over-the-top challenge left the Brazil winger writhing in agony and sparked an unseemly melee between players from both sides. Referee Shen Yinhao, however, without the luxury of multi-angle replays, deemed the foul only worthy of a yellow card.

And there was more to come. Yan Dinghao felt Josef De Souza's flailing arm in his face and went down theatrically, while Li Ke wrestled Davidson to the ground as they jostled inside the area. Zhang Chengdong jumped back up and bumped Nicolae Stanciu over. He Chao triggered another dust-up after appearing to intentionally lash the ball directly at Ademi.

To dwell too much on the irritating fouls would be unfair when the matchup was such a spellbinding spectacle, but there is no doubt this fixture's controversies formed a substantial part of the narrative and it was an extremely grueling occasion for the referee. The mitigation for Shen is that everything happened at such a full tilt, it was difficult to keep pace with the action even with the aid of the video assistant referee.

Wuhan were certainly on the receiving end of several refereeing blunders, but Takahata Tsutomu's side refused to lie down, and there were periods when they looked the more rounded team in terms of getting the balance right between defense and attack. 

"I've always emphasized to my players the importance of remaining calm during matches and avoiding any tackles that may harm opponents," observed Tsutomu. "It's equally important to exercise restraint in response to the referee's decisions. I have confidence that my players will adhere to my expectations, and only then can we showcase the style of play I am striving for."

To their credit, Wuhan practice what he preaches, and the equalizer duly came after 81 minutes. Nicolae Stanciu's delivery into the box was measured beautifully. Li Yang had been anticipating the cross and cushioned a first-time header past a helpless Han Jiaqi.

Only three wins in their last eight games was surely alarming, but this was not a dreadful Beijing performance, just a slightly fatigued, sapped one, epitomized by Fang's near miss. The 23-year-old had a chance to double his tally and secure the winner when Ademi played him in and Fang read the pass perfectly, yet his first heavy touch showed the goalkeeper too much of the ball and the golden opportunity was lost.

"It's such a shame that we didn't manage to secure a win," a crestfallen Fang told reporters after the draw. "Even though I scored a goal, I missed the opportunity to seal the victory. If only I could have scored a second, we might have won... I need to reflect on my performance and learn from it.

"This was my first time starting in a home game, and I was ready to play at any moment. I firmly believe that opportunities are meant for those who are prepared, and if given the chance, I will always give my 100 percent on the pitch."

For Beijing coach Ricardo Soares, the message to take was a hopeful one. They were far from the rabble of early season here and, had some of their youngsters been more lethal in one of several counterattacking chances, they might yet have the last laugh.

"Our team is grappling with a lot of injuries at the moment, and several players are unable to play," observed the Portuguese tactician during the press briefing.

"Nevertheless, this has presented an excellent opportunity for our young players to step up and exhibit their potential. Their performance in both training and matches has been outstanding. Looking ahead, I am convinced that we should consider giving our young players more opportunities to shine.

"It's imperative that we are patient with them and understand that mistakes are a natural part of their growth. I'm confident that as they mature and develop their skills further, Guoan will emerge even stronger."

For all their tantalizing promise, Beijing did not do enough to merit victory and their title hopes are long gone. But another year for Fang, 22-year-old Nebijan Muhmet and 23-year-old Jiang Wenhao to be polished will see Guoan come back stronger next season.