In the late afternoon of August 22, Yanjing Brewery 2022 CFA Cup first round of nine matches to draw to a close, 18 teams in the first round of the Central League in Dalian, Tangshan, Nanjing, three major tournaments to start a battle, nine teams to advance to the second round of the Central League stood out, they are: Suzhou Dongwu, Zibo Cuju, Qingdao Haixiu, Shijiazhuang Kungfu, Kunshan team, Jiangxi Beidamen, Guangxi Pingguo Hahuyun, Sichuan Jiuniu and Nanjing City. The AFC Cup has always been a stage for young talent and a cradle for dark horses, and the excitement of the first round of matches is a reflection of this tradition.
Young talent spreads its wings and flies
The first round of the AFC Cup was full of excitement, with young players such as Wang Hansheng, Liu Tianyang and Hao Kesen performing well. On the first day of the two matches, Suzhou Dongwu beat Beijing Polytechnic 2-0, and Kaiser, who scored twice, was elected the best player of the match. Zibo Cuju beat Shanghai Jiading Huifeng 3-1, only 2 minutes after the start, Zibo Cuju through the penalty kicks 1:0 lead. In the 50th minute, Zibo Cuju extended their lead. Wang Hansheng took a good pass from a teammate and calmly pushed the ball inside the penalty area. Shanghai Jiading in the 57th minute by Ales equalized a goal, Zibo Cuju team in the 92nd minute by Yan Yiming scored a third goal, the final score is fixed at 3:1.
Goal scorer Wang Hansheng was named the best player of the match after the game. The 21-year-old had scored his first career goal on August 8 when he broke through Qingdao Hainiu's goal in the Central League. In the current round, he scored again in the AFC Cup, and this young player, who has received training at clubs such as Valencia and Villarreal, is stepping up to a higher stage.
Leaders go out unexpectedly, minor cold streaks abound
The AFC Cup has always had its share of cold streaks, and on August 21st, Nantong Zhiyun, who are ranked first in the Central League, failed to advance to the next round after a 0-2 defeat to Shijiazhuang Kung Fu, with Liu Tianyang and Rosario scoring the goals for Shijiazhuang Kung Fu. The match coincided with the 23rd birthday of Liu Tianyang, who is also a member of Shijiazhuang Kungfu's own youth training system.
In the other match, Sichuan Jiuniu beat Beijing Beitian University 4:2 to advance to the next round of the tournament. Xia Dalong scored two goals in the match and was named the best player of the match. Xia Dalong joined Sichuan Jiuniu FC in 2020, and he had played for several teams before that.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, the match between Nanjing City and Qingdao Youth Island was drawn 0:0 in 90 minutes, and went straight into a penalty shootout. Nanjing City goalkeeper Hao Kesen pounced on the opponent's penalty kick, laying the foundation for the victory of the game. Hao Kesen is the Nanjing City Club youth training system trained players, this year only 22 years old, after the game he was named the best player of the game, but also in this round of the game is the only goalkeeper to win this honor.
In another penalty shootout on the 21st, Heilongjiang Bingcheng and Qingdao Hainiu played to a 2-2 draw in regular time, and both sides exchanged eight rounds of penalties before deciding the winner, with Qingdao Hainiu advancing to the next round with a total score of 10:9. In other matches, Kunshan beat Liaoning Shenyang City 4:2, Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic 0:1 Guangxi Pingguo Ha Loud and Clear, and Jiangxi Beidamen 4:3 Xinjiang Tianshan Snow Leopard.
On September 1, Yanjing Brewery's 2022 CFA Cup will conduct the draw for the round of 32. In addition to the 18 Chinese Super League (CSL) teams and the nine CSL A teams that have already been promoted, the round of 32 will also include the top three teams from this season's CSL B, as well as the two teams that have the best results in the current season and will continue to be permitted to participate in the final stage of the 2022 Champions League, in addition to the teams that have been promoted or substituting for those that have already been promoted to the 2022 CSL B. Teams. The second to sixth rounds are scheduled to take place from November 22, 2022 to January 8, 2023, with the second round of 32 and the third round of 32 scheduled to take place from November 22, 2022 to January 8, 2023 The second round of 32 and the third round of eight finals will be single-legged knockout, while the fourth round of quarterfinals and the fifth round of semifinals will be home-and-away double-legged knockout. The final will be a single-leg tie-breaker.
