In the 1/8 finals of the 2024 Chinese Football Association Cup, a key battle was played at Chengdu Phoenix Mountain Stadium, with Chengdu Rongcheng playing against Nantong Zhiyun. Rongcheng have been in good form of late, going seven games unbeaten in all competitions (six wins, one draw). In the 4th round of the FA Cup against Shanghai Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Rongcheng played 1-1 with the opponent and finally won 4-3 through penalty shootouts to advance. Nantong Zhiyun defeated Ganzhou Ruishi 3-1 away in the fourth round to advance. The last six meetings between the two teams have won six consecutive games and conceded only one goal, occupying an overwhelming advantage.

In this game, Rongcheng made a large rotation of the lineup, Aikesen and Palacios, Tang Chuang formed a forward line, behind Tan Miao, Maitijiang, Yan Dinghao and Tang Xin, Dong Yanfeng, Yang Fan, Chen Guoliang formed a defensive line, and the goalkeeper Jian Tao.

After the opening, Rongcheng dominated possession, and Nantong Zhiyun mainly played defensive counterattacks, but the shooting opportunities created by the two teams were only a handful. In the 7th minute, Rongcheng defended and counterattacked, Palacios stepped forward to open the defender and advanced with the ball, and then crossed from the right side outside the penalty area, but unfortunately failed to form a shot in the end; In the 20th minute, Tang Xin sent a cross from the left side of the frontfield, and Tang Chuang fought for the top in front of the goal; In the 21st minute, Nantong Zhiyun counterattacked, Ye Daochi burst into the left side of the penalty area and hit the goal and was blocked;

In the 35th minute, Rongcheng counterattacked again, Palacios split the ball, Tan Miao passed diagonally into the penalty area, but unfortunately the follow-up teammates failed to get the ball and missed the opportunity again; In the 45th minute, the balance of the score was finally broken, Yan Dinghao stopped after taking the ball on the left side outside the penalty area, and then hit the goal with his feet, and the ball was vigorously drilled into the upper left corner of the goal, 1-0! In the 45+3rd minute, Jia Boyan broke through with the ball on the left side, and then successfully shot at a small angle after the counterattack, and the ball was directly confiscated by Jian Tao;

At half-time, Rongcheng temporarily led Nantong Zhiyun 1-0 with Yan Dinghao's world wave. In the half, Rongcheng had 55% possession, but only 3 shots on goal and 1 shot on target, and Nantong Zhiyun only had 2 shots on goal and 1 shot on target; Yibian fought again, in the 47th minute, Xu Junmin advanced to the top of the arc outside the big penalty area with the ball in the front, and suddenly shot a cold arrow in the face of the defense, but this time the shot also injured him, and then he was carried off on a stretcher;

In the 57th minute, Maitijiang picked up the left side of the field and passed into the penalty area, and Anthony took the first step to clear the ball; In the 64th minute, Wei Shihao came on as a substitute; In the 67th minute, Rongcheng besieged Nantong Zhiyun's penalty area, but several shots were blocked; In the 69th minute, Wei Shihao cut inside on the left side, and the ball was confiscated by the goalkeeper; Since then, Rongcheng has successively replaced the main force, Felipe, Romulo, and Zhou Dingyang appeared;

In the 80th minute, Romulo sent a ball over the top in the middle circle, Felipe stepped forward to get a single chance, and faced the attacking goalkeeper to pick up the goal, 2-0, Rongcheng sealed the win; Neither side has scored since then, and Rongcheng defeated Nantong Zhiyun at home to advance to the last eight of the FA Cup.