The former captain turned against his old team, while the new captain delivered a last-second winner! The Chinese Super League's second half resumes, and Chengdu Rongcheng shows no signs of slowing down.

Reported by Lu Mi Following the international break, the second half of the CSL season commenced this week as the league leaders took on Shenzhen Xinpengcheng away from home. Chengdu Rongcheng ultimately emerged victorious with a 3-2 stoppage-time win, courtesy of Wei Shihao's double. They pocketed a valuable three points on the road, strengthened their position at the top of the table, and began the second half of the campaign on a positive note.

Shenzhen Xinpengcheng's midfield lynchpin, Zhou Dingyang, previously served as Chengdu's captain and remains a favorite among Chengdu fans. Meanwhile, Baihelamu, who played for Sichuan Jiuniu—the predecessor of Shenzhen Xinpengcheng—during the China League One days, was returning to Shenzhen to face his former club for the first time. The national team striker was equally eager to prove his worth with a standout performance. The emotional ties between the two clubs and the subplot of former players facing their old sides made this match a hot topic even before kickoff.

In their first meeting this season, although Xinpengcheng drew first blood within five minutes, Jiang Zhipeng's red card changed the game's momentum, leading to Chengdu's emphatic 5-1 home win. This encounter, however, featured even fiercer physicality and intensity. Zhou Dingyang and Baihelamu showed no mercy against their former team: Zhou battled hard with ex-teammates Hu Hetao and Wei Shihao, and also clashed frequently with Chengdu's foreign striker Silva; Baihelamu locked horns with Xinpengcheng defender and former Chengdu player Hu Ruibao. By halftime, the two sides had accumulated five yellow cards, with Wei Shihao alone drawing bookings for former captain Zhou Dingyang and another ex-Chengdu player, Yang Yiming.

Beyond the gritty physical contest, the stronger Chengdu side took the initiative early. Within two minutes of kickoff, Silva won a penalty, and the team's new captain, Wei Shihao, calmly converted to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. After the break, Chengdu kept up the pressure, and young talent He Yiran capitalized on a scramble to score a deflected goal, doubling their advantage to 2-0. With a two-goal lead on the road, Chengdu appeared firmly in control of the match.

However, facing a desperate situation, Shenzhen Xinpengcheng showed remarkable resilience. Foreign striker Ousou first pulled one back. Then came the most dramatic twist: in the 90th minute, Yang Yiming sent in a cross from the right, Liu Dianzuo spilled the ball on his attempt to catch it, and Zhou Dingyang pounced on the rebound to score. The two former Chengdu players combined to equalize against their old club, turning a two-goal deficit into a spirited draw and igniting the home side's comeback momentum.

But just as Xinpengcheng fans were celebrating the "dramatic equalizer," Wei Shihao stepped up again to take charge. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Xuan Zhijian was sent off, reducing the hosts to ten men. Four minutes later, Wei Shihao received a pass from Felipe on the right side of the box, cut inside, and unleashed a low drive to complete his brace. This last-gasp winner shattered Shenzhen Xinpengcheng's hopes of salvaging a point, sealing the final score at 3-2.

From breaking the deadlock early to delivering the final dagger, Wei Shihao was undeniably the hero of Chengdu's away triumph. With his two goals in this match, he surpassed Zhang Yuning to top the domestic scorers' chart with eight strikes. After the game, Chengdu head coach John Aloisi heaped praise on Wei, saying, "He has been performing exceptionally well throughout the season, and this is also proof of his leadership as captain, both on and off the pitch. With a striker like him, we believe we have the ability to keep scoring goals."

Aloisi admitted that his team were not at their best after returning from the break, but he commended their attitude, stating, "Under heavy pressure from the opponent, I'm very pleased to see the team fight until the very last moment every time, and I hope we can maintain this mindset." Despite the absence of Romulo and Yusa for half of the match, Chengdu secured a crucial victory through their tenacity and the standout performances of key players. They consolidated their lead at the top of the table, now holding a 13-point advantage, and got the second half of their championship campaign off to an excellent start.