FA Cup Preview: Qingdao West Coast’s relegation pressure casts doubt on fighting spirit; Shandong Taishan must overcome injury crisis

On July 17 at 6 PM, the FA Cup Round of 16 will see Qingdao West Coast host Shandong Taishan in a match that promises to be a heated derby. Qingdao West Coast needs to focus on avoiding relegation, while Shandong Taishan hopes to reverse their fortunes in the cup competition.

Qingdao West Coast is in a precarious position in the league, currently sitting with 4 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses for 16 points in the Chinese Super League, which has dropped them into the relegation zone under intense pressure to avoid demotion. On Sunday, they face a crucial relegation battle against Meizhou Hakka. At this critical juncture, their motivation for the FA Cup is questionable, as they may opt to field reserve players primarily as a formality, reserving all their energy for the weekend’s relegation showdown.

In Qingdao West Coast’s squad, Alan has scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists, Riascos has contributed 4 goals and 2 assists, while Lu Si has netted 3 goals and set up 2 more. These three players are the team’s primary offensive threats. However, given the immense pressure to avoid relegation, whether Qingdao West Coast will deploy these key players becomes uncertain, as how far they advance in the FA Cup is not of paramount importance to the team.

Shandong Taishan’s performance this season has been less than stellar, ranking 5th in the Chinese Super League with 8 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses for 31 points, having failed to win in their last five league matches. For Shandong Taishan, with such poor form in the domestic league, the FA Cup has become a lifeline for the team. The team’s top scorer, Crespo, has contributed 15 goals and 4 assists so far this season, while Kvaratskhelia has delivered 6 goals and 9 assists, showcasing strong performances from these two foreign players.

In this match, Shandong Taishan continues to grapple with injury concerns, as Wu Xinghan, Shi Ke, and Tong Lei are sidelined due to injuries, and Bi Jinhao is also unavailable. Speaking about the challenges ahead of the game, Shandong Taishan’s head coach Choi Kang-hee said, “The team is facing many injuries, particularly in defense. In a knockout cup match, we will utilize all available personnel to perform as well as possible. In the cup format, you must strive for victory against any opponent and work hard to reach the end.”

The two teams have met twice so far, with Shandong Taishan holding the upper hand with one win and one draw. At Qingdao West Coast’s home ground, they have only faced each other once this season, ending in a goalless draw.

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