Shanghai Haigang away challenge Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, China Football Association Cup fourth round match: Shanghai Shenhua vs Zhejiang team Nantong Haimen | Team | Zhejiang team

On June 25th, 2023, the third round of the Chinese Football Association Cup ended with the formation of the top 16 teams, and the fourth round of matches came to an end. The Shanghai and Shanghai duo will launch separate attacks, Shanghai Shenhua will face Zhejiang team at home, and Shanghai Haigang will challenge Tianjin Jinmen Tigers away.

Two China League Two teams are undoubtedly dark horses

According to the Chinese Football Association Cup system, lower level teams are given priority in selecting their home ground, while the use of foreign aid by higher level teams is restricted. The strength gap between teams of different levels is not significant, and the suspense of victory or defeat in matches is greatly increased.

On June 23rd, Chongqing Tonglianglong hosted Chengdu Rongcheng at home, and with the support of the "Sichuan Chongqing Derby" complex, the competition attracted high attention from the outside world. Under the gaze of 13217 fans on site, Chongqing Tonglianglong drew 0-0 with Chengdu Rongcheng after 90 minutes of fierce competition. In the penalty shootout, Tonglianglong won 4-2, successfully blocking Chengdu Rongcheng, who ranked third in the Chinese Super League points table, from the top 16 of the Chinese Football Association Cup.

As the leader of the Southern Division of this season's China League Two, Chongqing Tongliang Dragon had already suffered a major upset in the second round of the Chinese Football Association Cup, sweeping China League One team Shijiazhuang Kung Fu 3-0, demonstrating their dark horse stance.

The Nantong Haimen Kediyuan team, also from the China League Two, played at home and drew 1-1 with Shenzhen team within 90 minutes. In the penalty shootout, they made 5 out of 5 and eliminated Shenzhen team with a total score of 6-5 to advance to the fourth round.

According to the schedule, these two China League Two teams will have a direct dialogue in the fourth round. Regardless of who ultimately wins, it is guaranteed that a low-level team from China League Two will advance to the quarterfinals, undoubtedly becoming the biggest "dark horse" in the 2023 Chinese Football Association Cup.

In addition, the Chinese Super League team Qingdao West Coast defeated the Chinese Super League team Cangzhou Lions 2-1 with the goals of Tian Yong and Guo Yi, completing the feat of "defeating the strong with the weak". This season, Qingdao West Coast has performed well in the China League One, currently ranking second in the league standings, with both fronts advancing side by side, demonstrating strong competitiveness.

New Coach Appears on the Football Association Cup Arena

The third round of the Chinese Football Association Cup also saw the concentrated appearance of new coaches from multiple teams, and the newly appointed teams all performed well. Under the command of the new head coach Suarez, Beijing Guoan won 1-0 away from Zibo Qisheng economically, successfully advancing to the fourth round. With the departure of Dutchman Stanley, the national security technical and tactical style will be adjusted, and the FA Cup will give Suarez the opportunity to familiarize himself with the team.

Under the command of new head coach Takahata Mizumi, Wuhan Sanzhen defeated Jiangxi Lushan 5-1, regaining the strong attacking firepower of the defending champions of the Chinese Super League, with foreign striker Yakub Aziz scoring two goals alone. Nantong Zhiyun previously announced that Barcelona legend Gabriel Garcia has joined the team as the new head coach. With the goals of Gui Hong, Zheng Haoqian, and Ke Milan, Nantong Zhiyun won 3-0, and Garcia received a good start in coaching Nantong Zhiyun.

Similarly, Yunnan Yukun, a Chinese second division team, also changed their coach. Although they were not able to cool off, under the command of new coach Shi Jun, Yunnan Yukun performed quite well, leading Shenhua 1-0 at one point. As a well-established strong team, Shenhua displayed excellent psychological qualities at critical moments. Despite adversity, they rose up and caught up, equalizing with Fernando's header and the veteran's final victory in the Chinese Super League, ultimately overcoming the challenge.

In other competitions, Mount Taishan of Shandong Province swept the Dongguan Dongguan United 6-1 to show the strong firepower of the defending champion, and Cresan scored three goals alone to complete a "hat trick". Tianjin Jinmen Tiger defeated Wuxi Wugou 2-0, and Xie Weijun scored twice. Shanghai Haigang defeated their old opponent Guangzhou team 3-1 and advanced smoothly. Qingdao manatees drew 1-1 with Dandong Tengyue within 90 minutes and advanced smoothly through a penalty shootout. Henan team defeated Hunan Xiangtao 1-0, Zhejiang team defeated Sichuan Jiuniu 4-1, Meizhou Hakka drew 1-1 with Suzhou Dongwu, and advanced through a difficult penalty shootout.

The fourth round match situation is determined

After this round of matches, the situation of the fourth round of the 2023 Chinese Football Association Cup has also been determined. According to the schedule, the fourth round of eight matches will be held on July 25th and 26th, and a single elimination system will still be adopted. According to the regulations of the 2023 Chinese Football Association Cup, "if the opposing team originates from different related competitions, the team ranked lower in the corresponding tournament priority will choose to play at their own home stadium; if the opposing team originates from the same tournament, the team ranked lower in the previous season's league priority will choose the home stadium.".

In the first half, Shanghai Harbor will play Tianjin Jinmen Tiger away, Dalian people will play Henan team at home, Qingdao West Coast will play Beijing Guoan at home, and Meizhou Hakka will play Mount Taishan in Shandong at home.

In the second half of the region, Nantong Zhiyun will face Wuhan Sanzhen at home, Changchun Yatai will face Qingdao Hainiu away, and Zhejiang team will face Shanghai Shenhua away, staging the "Yangtze River Delta Derby". Chongqing Tonglianglong and Nantong Haimen Kediyuan, two Chinese second division teams, have a direct conversation. Chongqing Tonglianglong has just been promoted to the Chinese second division this season, so they will have the priority to choose their home ground in the "dark horse battle" against Nantong Haimen Kediyuan.

Outside the field, the "Seed Plan" public welfare activity of the 2023 Chinese Football Association Cup continues to be carried out. In this round, players have visited three competition areas: Suzhou, Chongqing, and Harbin, donating football to primary schools in the competition area. At the same time, participating players also engage in rich football interactive activities with primary school students.

All 16 Chinese Super League teams made appearances, and except for Chengdu Rongcheng, Cangzhou Lions, and Shenzhen, which were eliminated, the other 13 Chinese Super League teams successfully advanced. The Chongqing Tonglianglong and Nantong Haimen Kediyuan teams from China League Two, as well as the Qingdao West Coast team from China League One, defeated the Chinese Super League team with weakness, and their successful breakthrough made the upcoming fourth round of the competition even more suspenseful.