Xiamen and Jinmen players compete during the soccer friendly in Xiamen. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A soccer team from Jinmen played a friendly match against Xiamen on July 5, marking the first time a team from Taiwan has competed in a city-based soccer league on the Chinese mainland.

More than 20,000 spectators attended the match at Xiamen Sports Center, where the home side secured a 5-2 win over Jinmen.

Players from both teams compete during the match. [Photo/Xiamen Evening News]

Xiamen took the lead in the 29th minute through player Sun Jinghao before extending its advantage. Despite the result, players from both sides exchanged handshakes, hugs, and took a group photo after the final whistle.

Xu Hongzhi, Jinmen team's captain and president of the Jinmen Football Association, said the match offered a chance to learn from Xiamen and expressed hope that the team could join the Fujian Football City League in the future.

Beyond the match, officials and coaches from both sides discussed youth development and grassroots soccer. Xiamen also invited Jinmen to expand exchanges in soccer as well as other sports including women's basketball, badminton, and baseball.

The match marks the first appearance by a Taiwan compatriot team in a city league on the Chinese mainland. [Photo/Xiamen Evening News]