After three consecutive wins in the league, Chengdu Rongcheng is now looking forward to their first-ever AFC Champions League match.

Reporter Lu Mi reports. Facing the promoted team Dalian Yingbo away was not easy for Chengdu Rongcheng—due to a packed schedule, head coach Xu Zhengyuan had to rotate players. After more than 70 minutes of fierce confrontation, the score remained 0-0 until Romulo came on and provided two assists, first to Felipe and then to Gan Chao. This way, Rongcheng secured a 2-0 victory over Suoyu Bay, breaking free from their slump with three consecutive wins. In the middle of next week, they will face their first AFC Champions League match in team history.

In the past two rounds, Rongcheng achieved two consecutive victories, defeating Guoan and Taishan. Relatively speaking, Yingbo is slightly weaker, but the promoted team is in great form, having achieved four consecutive wins without conceding a goal.

Suoyu Bay is a tough venue, and with a tight schedule, Rongcheng had to rotate players. Xu Zhengyuan made adjustments across all three lines: Delgado replaced Romulo in the forward line, Yan Dinghao came on for Yang Mingyang in midfield, right wing-back Gan Chao was on standby from the bench, Wang Dongsheng started, and center-back Li Yang was also rotated for rest. After these changes, all three lines formed a completely new combination, posing a significant challenge for the away team Rongcheng.

The home atmosphere at Suoyu Bay can rival that of Fenghuang Mountain, putting immense pressure on the visiting team. Over 60,000 fans attended the match.

Rongcheng aimed to seize the early advantage but was countered by Yingbo, who also played with three center-backs. They then exerted pressure in midfield, limiting Rongcheng's ball movement while trying to disrupt their attacking rhythm.

Compared to previous matches, Rongcheng was hesitant to engage in positional play due to the absence of Romulo. They attempted short passes but struggled to penetrate the opponent's dense defense, often coming up empty-handed. Yingbo's counterattacks, fueled by the speedy Malalai, forced Rongcheng to keep their formation cautious and not push too far forward.

“I anticipated that the match would be very difficult. Setting aside other factors, I knew that Dalian's home crowd would have over 60,000 fans cheering for them, which is a very powerful force. Therefore, we had to remain calm on the field during the match. This point was emphasized both before the game and during halftime. Overall, we played very cautiously in the first half, always waiting for opportunities,” Xu Zhengyuan said after the match.

Both sides engaged in fierce physical battles in midfield, which hindered the overall pace of the match. Throughout the first half, neither team had significant chances, with only Yingbo's Labuyade coming close to scoring after receiving a pass from Liu Zhuyun. Rongcheng had three shots in the first half, while Yingbo had two, but none were on target.

In the second half, Xu Zhengyuan made the first adjustment in midfield, substituting Yang Mingyang for Yan Dinghao. Under pressure from the opponent, Yang received a yellow card. In the first half, Yan had also received a yellow card for a similar foul; if he hadn't been substituted, they might have faced a non-combat loss.

From the match, it was evident that both teams engaged in more frequent physical confrontations. Liao Jintao received a yellow card for pulling Felipe's shirt while defending. Subsequently, a confrontation between Malalai and Gurlfinkel led to conflict between both sides. However, as Xu Zhengyuan emphasized, the Rongcheng players quickly refocused on the match, and Xu made personnel adjustments to change the dynamics on the field.

In the 59th minute, Gan Chao replaced Wang Dongsheng, and Li Yang came on to bolster the defense's stamina. The team was now able to stretch Yingbo's defense through long passes and wing attacks. The turning point of the match came with Romulo's entry—he replaced Delgado in the 70th minute.

Romulo's handling of the ball was notably precise, allowing Rongcheng to take the initiative. In the 77th minute, Romulo crossed from the left, and Felipe broke the deadlock. In stoppage time, it was again Romulo who provided the assist, with Gan Chao scoring from a tight angle to seal the victory.

“This year, I have set very high standards for myself. I have played some good matches, but the goals haven't come as I hoped. However, I have contributed a lot in other areas for the team, which gives me some comfort,” Felipe said in a recent interview with Brazilian media, expressing the team's continuous desire for victory. “I hope to achieve our goals for this season.”

In the face of intense competition, Rongcheng managed to secure a hard-fought victory through personnel adjustments and preemptive assessments of challenges. It is evident that after going through previous turmoil, the team is gradually emerging from their low point, adjusting rapidly.

“Every match is very challenging for us, and what we need to do is overcome these challenges. I believe that through this series of victories, our players have gained more confidence,” Xu Zhengyuan stated. After three consecutive wins, the team has reason to celebrate, but he reminded the players that there is another important match next week—the AFC Champions League playoff on August 12, where they will face Bangkok United at home, a match that will determine their fate.

“I emphasized to all the players that happiness is limited to today; afterward, we must start preparing. Although it is a home game, we must maintain a clear mind to face it,” Xu Zhengyuan said.