Southwest Derby ends with a decisive victory, Rongcheng continues to maintain their title challenge momentum

Reporter Lu Mi reports After being eliminated from the FA Cup, Chengdu Rongcheng did not get a moment to breathe. With just a 3-point difference from the top of the league, they had to push for a higher ranking. Visiting Yuxi Plateau Stadium, and with Yunnan Yukun also recently out of the FA Cup, this match was humorously dubbed the FA Cup third and fourth place playoff. Both teams, having expended much energy midweek, showed no signs of holding back and fought hard for the win. Ultimately, Rongcheng secured a 5-1 victory thanks to Zhou Dingyang’s opening goal and Felipe’s brace, with two young players adding further contributions, solidifying their position in the title race and continuing their pursuit.

In this “Southwest Derby,” Xu Zhengyuan kept the starting lineup largely unchanged, with the only adjustment being the return of Hu Hetao from injury to the starting eleven. However, an unexpected event occurred before the match: Chengdu Rongcheng’s original starting defender Timo was injured during warm-up, forcing Xu Zhengyuan to make a last-minute change and field a fully domestic three-center-back defense.

Playing on the plateau for the first time, Rongcheng, already an AFC Champions League team, showed no signs of intimidation. Cheered on by 3,000 traveling fans, they started aggressively with sharp passing and ball control, dominating Yunnan Yukun’s midfield and defense. Their quick and skillful ball movement unsettled Yukun’s defense, and Romulo soon took the first shot.

Chengdu Rongcheng used wing crosses and central penetrations, relying on more ground passing to cope with the fast-paced plateau home conditions. In the 11th minute, Wei Shihao broke through on the left and hit the post; Zhou Dingyang’s follow-up shot helped Rongcheng take the lead. After scoring, Rongcheng maintained intense pressure on their opponents, continuously attacking from both flanks, applying stress on Yukun’s all-domestic defensive line from the sides.

Yukun mostly relied on long balls to find Oscar, aiming to exploit space behind Rongcheng’s defense. However, due to limited attacking options, they failed to pose any real threat. In terms of attack rhythm, Chengdu Rongcheng controlled the game, though a temporary lapse in defense gave Yukun a chance. In the 33rd minute, defender Li Songyi unexpectedly carried the ball forward, escaping Rongcheng’s defenders. Surprisingly, his chipped pass found Hou Yongyong in front of goal, who lobbed the ball in to equalize.

During stoppage time of the first half, Chengdu Rongcheng had another chance to retake the lead, but Felipe’s goal was disallowed after he stepped on Nei Nei before shooting, as confirmed by VAR. Both teams went into the break tied. From the half-time stats, Rongcheng played actively and assertively, with overall strength superior to Yunnan Yukun. However, the stats were close, with possession differing by less than 2% and Rongcheng making only two more passes than their opponents. Rongcheng’s strength advantage was not reflected in the score or data.

In the second half, Xu Zhengyuan first substituted Gan Chao for Yuan Mincheng, with Gan playing right-back, switching Rongcheng to a four-defender formation. Yuan Mincheng was taken off due to an injury sustained in the first half; after brief treatment, he continued playing but later went to a local hospital in Yuxi for examination. With two defenders injured in one match, Xu Zhengyuan’s options for adjustments were very limited.

Despite the difficult situation, in the 53rd minute, Wei Shihao and Felipe combined well, with Felipe breaking through from outside the box, overpowering Yukun’s defense with individual skill to put his team ahead again. Felipe’s show wasn’t over; in the 63rd minute, during a counterattack, he scored a long-range shot into the top corner, extending the lead to 3-1.

Yukun’s defense kept faltering, and their offense failed to pressure Rongcheng sufficiently. Finally, two substitutes, young players Li Moyu and Liao Rongxiang, each scored to seal the 5-1 result. Chengdu Rongcheng wiped away the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat with this big win, keeping close to the league leaders in points.

After securing this big win, Xu Zhengyuan was not overly euphoric due to the exhausting schedule throughout August for both him and the players. “Today’s match was very important for our team. Before the game, I was quite worried because August’s schedule is incredibly tight with many crucial matches. The players have been participating in these very important games continuously, which is physically and mentally draining.”

Despite the injuries to two key defenders in this match, the team’s performance was not significantly affected. Xu Zhengyuan attributed this mainly to the players’ fighting spirit and determination. “Timo’s injury had been recurring, so he had to be replaced. After the first half, Yuan Mincheng also got injured. Under such difficult circumstances, we switched to a four-defender formation, and the players executed the tactics resolutely. I want to thank our players for that.”