Chengdu Hibiscus Soccer Tournament Review
On November 30th, in the third round of the fourth stage of the "Super League", Chengdu Rongcheng beat Zhejiang, the third-ranked team in the Central League, 3-1 in a crucial match thanks to Leonardo's brilliant performance. Although Chengdu Rongcheng is still in fourth place in the overall standings, it is only three points behind Zhejiang, and this victory puts the fight for the third place in this season's Central League in doubt once again.
In the first two rounds of the fourth stage of the Meizhou tournament, Chengdu Rongcheng suffered a reversal of Wuhan Sanzhen, losing 1-2 and playing a 0-0 draw with leader Meizhou Hakka. With 6 rounds left in the league, Chengdu Rongcheng is 12 points behind Meizhou Hakka, 11 points behind Wuhan Sanzhen and 6 points behind Zhejiang. Although the chances of winning the top two spots in the Chinese Super League are very slim, Chengdu Rongcheng still has two ways to enter the Chinese Super League through the play-offs and to be promoted to the Super League on the basis of the following year's situation. Therefore, the team should first try their best to keep the top four places in the following games, and secondly, strive for a better place on the basis of the fourth place, so as to minimize the difficulty of the play-offs or increase the chances of obtaining the replacement qualification.
Against this backdrop, this round's battle with Zhejiang is particularly important. The two teams are currently only 6 points apart, and if Chengdu Rongcheng can beat Zhejiang, the difference will be narrowed to 3 points, and there is every chance that they can make a comeback in the last 5 rounds to get the third place. Likewise, Zhejiang will need 3 points to continue their assault on the top two, and a draw will only result in a double-loss situation that will only make the top two positions of Meizhou Hakka and Wuhan Sanzhen more secure.
Last season, the two teams were "in a relationship."
Chengdu Rongcheng's dream was shattered in the second phase of the Central League last season, and the key battle was the 0-1 defeat against Zhejiang, which largely contributed to the team's loss in last season's Super League. At that time, this battle let the Chengdu players and fans are "difficult to peace", Zhejiang team in the situation of the lead, in the game is still 60 minutes left on the intentional stalling time, Zhejiang players a little physical contact on the ground, so tired of the scene of the game stretcher worker, some fans in the post-game jokingly said: "The team doctor may be better than the Zhejiang team, the team doctor is not as good as the team. Zhejiang team doctor may be more than the players on the field to run!"
After that battle, Chengdu Rongcheng captain Gan Rui couldn't control his emotions in an interview, saying angrily, "Since our team has been in Central Championship, Central B to Central A, no matter what the game is, we won't lay down on the ground like this, and we won't play the game too piecemeal. I just don't understand how we can't play the game properly!"
Against the backdrop of a 6-point battle for survival and last season's "old grudge", this afternoon's match has attracted a lot of attention. Chengdu Rongcheng starting this game with the first two rounds of the fourth stage of the first two rounds compared to a slight change, the main center back Liu Tao suspended, Hu Yongfa into the replacement, he and hook Junchen, Gan Rui composed of three center backs, young Liu Bin into the starting lineup and Tang Xin respectively as the left wingback and right wingback, the center forward Leonardo finally returned to the starting lineup, and Liu Ruofan composed of the front line partner.
3-1 win, Chengzheng soccer team avenges a stroke of luck
After the game started, both sides have some gunpowder flavor, soon Zhejiang team foreign aid Frank in the scramble in the brain see red. Chengdu Rongcheng first threatened the opponent's goal in the 7th minute, Liu Ruowan van through the crotch of the ball to the right, Tang Xin from the right inserted with the ball into the penalty area, but a little greedy, he did not choose to cross the pass to the position of Liu Ruowan van or Leonardo, but chose to choose their own small angle of the shot, but unfortunately, the ball slightly off the post.
The 23rd minute Liu Ruowan vanadium strong formation of Zhejiang players in the right side of the foul, Romulo left-footed free kick seems to pass seem to shoot, Zhejiang's former national goalkeeper Gu Chao face this was not a big threat to the positioning of the ball even appeared to get out of the situation, Leonardo just to catch up with the goal easily pushed the ball into the empty goal, 1-0! Chengdu Rongcheng goalkeeper this season, Zhang Yi Nuo, Zhang Yan, all due to the game of the team's loss due to the low-level errors, this time also ran into the opposing goalkeeper "giveaway". This time, the opponent's goalkeeper also made a "gift".
With the lead, Chengdu Rongcheng did what Gan Rui said last year, the team would not resort to stalling for time to win and they continued to pressure their opponents with their offense. In the 34th minute, Romulo took another free kick from the right side of the field, and Hu Yongfa's header, which was surrounded by the goal, unfortunately missed the right part of the goal, and missed the opportunity to extend the lead. Only 2 minutes after the start of the second half, Liu Ruofan broke through at high speed on the left road with his individual ability, cut into the penalty area and shot, but unfortunately was pounced on by Gu Chao.
Later in the game, Zhejiang began to strengthen the attack, trying to change the situation on the field. Although Mu Xiekui's shot from the center of the field was off the post, it also scared Zhang Yan into a cold sweat. Frank in the penalty area back to the shot is also very threatening, but was Zhang Yan hard to pounce.
In the 57th minute, Zhejiang, who had been attacking continuously, finally seized the opportunity to equalize when Gu Bin crossed from the right and Mu Xiekui scored with a header from inside the penalty area.
One minute later, Chengdu Rongcheng responded quickly: Liu Bin's shot from outside the penalty area was parried by Gu Chao, Leonardo intercepted the ball on the right and passed it to Romulo, who flicked a shot into the center of the goal! This was a crucial goal that not only helped Chengdu Rongcheng to take the lead again, but also dealt a blow to Zhejiang, who were just starting to gain momentum.
In the 84th minute Chengdu Rongcheng locked the game, Romulo in the backfield after the ball sent a direct pass, Liu Ruowan vanadium long-distance run, in the entanglement of the two defenders still control the ball down the bottom of the cross in front of the door, Leonardo surrounded the middle of the place a shot to open the door, Chengdu Rongcheng also locked the game 3-1, not only to lose to the opponents of the middle of the season to break the dream of the arrow revenge, but also the opportunity to the next five rounds of overtaking the team of Zhejiang, to the third place in the Central League! The next phase of the fourth round of the fourth stage, Chengdu. In the fourth round of the fourth stage, Chengdu Rongcheng will face Guizhou, the "weakest" team in the Meizhou region, while Zhejiang will face Wuhan Sanzhen, and if things go well, Chengdu Rongcheng will have a chance to equal Zhejiang in the table this Sunday!
