In the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, a second division team called Chongqing Tongliang Dragons became a dark horse in the eyes of the people with their extraordinary momentum and continuous undefeated record on both fronts. However, against Chinese Super League giants Shanghai Shenhua, they lost 0-2 due to the striker's inability to capitalize on chances, despite once dominating the field. The fact that Chongqing Tongliang Dragons, a team from China B, managed to secure a place in the final eight is a miracle in itself.
Before taking on Shanghai Shenhua, Chongqing Tongliang Dragons had gone a staggering 20 games unbeaten in China's Second Division and FA Cup. With 4 wins in the FA Cup and 13 wins and 3 draws in the Second Division, the team is gaining momentum overall. In this game, coach Linlin played a 442 formation, and the young players showed a lot of vitality, depicting a bright picture for the team's future. The match was in full swing, with Chongqing Tongliang Dragons focusing on defensive counter-attacks, with Yu Wang posing a threat soon after the start, but unfortunately failing to break through the goal. As the game progressed, Shanghai Shenhua gradually gained the upper hand, and took the lead with a follow-up shot from Han Chao. Chongqing Tongliang Dragons were unable to change the scoreline despite a series of high quality attacks in the 24th and 35th minutes of the match. Towards the end of the first half, Xu Hao Yang's breakthrough and Fernando's shot gave Chongqing Tongliang Dragon a hope to turn the game around, but they eventually lost 0-2. After the match, Coach Linlin expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and thanked all the players for their hard work and the fans for their support. He believed that although the team lost to Shanghai Shenhua, the team needs to learn a lesson from it and improve in training. Facing the challenges ahead, Linlin is confident that the team will meet their rivals again in a few years' time. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Chongqing Tongliang Dragons' road to winning the championship in the Second Division has already begun. With 42 points from 13 wins and three draws, they are currently seven points ahead of the second-place team, and with a very high likelihood of winning the championship and promotion, the road ahead is full of expectations.
