On August 21st, 19:35, the Chinese FA Cup quarter-finals will see Nanjing City, a team from the China League One, host Chengdu Rongcheng, who currently sits in 3rd place in the Chinese Super League. Nanjing City, as the sole representative from the second tier, will be hoping to pull off another upset, while Chengdu Rongcheng is looking to make a mark in the FA Cup.
Nanjing City is the only remaining team from the China League One in the FA Cup’s last eight, making them the biggest dark horse in the competition this year. After 19 rounds of the China League One season, Nanjing City sits in 8th place, with no hope of promotion or fear of relegation, allowing them to focus solely on the FA Cup.
Chengdu Rongcheng is a strong team in the Chinese Super League, sitting 3rd in the standings after 24 rounds. While their chances of challenging for the top two are slim, they are secure in their position. Winning the FA Cup is the most viable path for them to qualify for next season’s AFC Champions League.
Nanjing City has already eliminated two Chinese Super League teams in the FA Cup: Cangzhou Mighty Lions and Qingdao Hainiu. Chengdu Rongcheng will be their third opponent from the top tier. However, Nanjing City’s momentum was broken last round in the China League One, suffering a 1-5 loss away to Liaoning Ironmen.
Chengdu Rongcheng suffered a 0-3 defeat away to Shandong Taishan last weekend, ending their 12-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. Their previous two FA Cup matches saw them overcome Shanghai Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and fellow Chinese Super League strugglers Nantong Zhiyun, facing little resistance.
As this is a match between a China League One and a Chinese Super League team, the rules for foreign player usage will follow those of the second tier. While Chengdu Rongcheng’s strong foreign player contingent will not be able to field all their players, Wei Shihao is set to return for the FA Cup after serving a suspension. His return after a month away from the pitch will be something to watch.
The two teams have met previously in the 2021 season in the China League One, with Chengdu Rongcheng claiming one win and one draw in the neutral venue format.
As the only remaining team from the China League One, Nanjing City has nothing to lose, and playing at home will give them even more motivation to progress. Chengdu Rongcheng, with their top-two aspirations seemingly out of reach in the league, are hoping to make their mark in the FA Cup.
>>”>For more predictions on this match, please click >>>
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/other/20481.html
