Three consecutive draws, Rongcheng slows down

Reporter Lu Mi reports A 1-1 draw away against West Coast gave Rongcheng their third consecutive tie, easing their pace. Despite this, their substantial advantage means no one believes they will surrender the league crown. Still, the squad's present performance needs fine-tuning, especially their capacity to convert chances near the goal.

As a title contender, Rongcheng had previously occupied the top of the league table for an extended period, boasting stable results and a well-developed tactical framework. However, in the last three matches, the team has recorded back-to-back draws, showing noticeable fluctuations in form. This away fixture against West Coast saw them face a mid-table opponent known for strong home resilience and highly disciplined counter-attacking tactics.

Considering the upcoming two-front campaign this month, and with Romulo and Felipe both advancing in age, head coach John Aloisi made a strategic adjustment by rotating the foreign players in attack, resting them and fielding Baihelamu and Wang Ziming as the strike partnership instead.

From the start, Rongcheng seized control of the game, pushing high up the pitch. Hu Hetao and Baihelamu frequently combined on the left flank, playing with aggression. Although Silva's goal was ruled out for offside, the rhythm of the match showed Rongcheng firmly in command.

Despite losing their previous match, West Coast had been performing well. After adapting to Rongcheng's pressing tempo, they tightened their defensive shape, making it difficult for the visitors to advance through midfield and turn possession into threatening attacks inside the box.

Rongcheng's prolonged failure to break through opened the door for West Coast. They launched a swift counter-attack after Rongcheng's set-piece attempt failed, catching the defense off guard. Hu Hetao's hurried clearance went awry, and Nelsinho chipped the ball home to break the deadlock.

Despite dominating and falling behind, Rongcheng's players did not panic and launched their own counter-attacks. Yet, like in the previous two games, they struggled to solve the puzzle of breaking down a resolute defense.

After the halftime break, to revitalize the attack, John Aloisi brought on Felipe, replacing Baihelamu, which boosted the offensive efficiency up front. The substitution visibly increased Rongcheng's threat in attack, with greater forward momentum, putting West Coast under sustained pressure. In the 62nd minute, Felipe and teammate Sorokin unleashed close-range shots in quick succession, but Li Hao made a brilliant save to deny them, wasting a golden chance to equalize.

The opposing goalkeeper's exceptional performance, combined with Rongcheng's own lack of clinical finishing, left the team unable to level the score for a long time.

In the 76th minute, Rongcheng's persistent pressure finally paid off. He Yiran won the ball high up the pitch and delivered a quality cross from the left. West Coast defender Wang Peng made a clearance error, accidentally turning it into an assist for Felipe, who calmly slotted home from a scramble to draw the match level.

Throughout the match, Rongcheng attacked relentlessly but failed to create many more clear-cut chances. The game ended 1-1, and thus Rongcheng recorded their third consecutive draw.

Despite the three draws, Felipe has been outstanding in all three matches, scoring two goals and providing one assist.

Rongcheng's draw was unsurprising—John Aloisi's decision to rotate foreign players was sound. Focusing on the long term, rotating the squad and honing the backup lineup is a necessary measure for a strong team dealing with multiple competitions.

However, this match marked Rongcheng's third straight draw, slowing their title charge. As the league leaders, they have not displayed the same dominance as in the first half of the season. In these three draws, the team dominated possession but had low shot conversion rates. Facing opponents' disciplined defensive setups, they lacked solutions to break through, revealing a serious deficiency in their ability to penetrate stubborn defenses.

After the match, Felipe stated frankly that the attack hasn't encountered any major problems, but multiple factors have led to the current situation. "For example, we are gradually becoming a relatively strong team. Many opponents, when facing us, may change their tactics, invest more effort in the game, and show a stronger desire to challenge or even defeat us. I think this poses a challenge for the team." He noted that the team needs to consider this factor during preparation and be ready. He believes the team is currently creating chances in attack, able to move the ball into the final third and into the box for shots, but sometimes football is like that—"you need a bit of luck." He said the team doesn't need to make major changes, such as altering their style or philosophy. "We must stick to our football philosophy, train hard every day, and improve ourselves. If we persist, we will succeed."

For Rongcheng, three consecutive draws are not a fatal crisis—after all, they lead the second-placed team by 15 points. Yet, as Felipe pointed out, in the second half of the season, as opponents become more targeted and intense, the team needs to quickly adjust its state without changing its style. Besides the league, they also aim to make an impact in the FA Cup, so the team must rediscover their form as soon as possible.