CFA Cup Preview: Can Nanjing City, the Sole CFA Team, Continue Their Dark Horse Run? Wei Shihao Returns as Chengdu Rongcheng Aims for Away Progress

At 19:35 on August 21st, in the quarterfinals of the Chinese FA Cup, the CFA team Nanjing City will host Chengdu Rongcheng, who are ranked third in the CSL. As the sole representative from the CFA league, Nanjing City hopes to continue their underdog story; Chengdu Rongcheng also has high aspirations in the FA Cup.

Nanjing City is the sole survivor from the CFA league among the top eight teams in the FA Cup this year and has become the biggest dark horse. After 19 rounds of the CFA league this season, Nanjing City sits in 8th place in the standings, with no hope of promotion and no relegation worries, allowing them to fully focus on the FA Cup matches.

Chengdu Rongcheng, on the other hand, is a strong team in the CSL. After 24 rounds of the CSL, they are placed third in the league table. The chances of reaching the top two spots are slim, but securing the third position is not a concern. If they want to qualify for next season’s AFC Champions League, winning the FA Cup is the most feasible option.

In the previous two rounds of the FA Cup, Nanjing City has consecutively eliminated CSL teams Cangzhou Mighty Lions and Qingdao Haoniu. Chengdu Rongcheng will be the third CSL opponent that Nanjing City faces. However, in the last round of the CFA league, Nanjing City suffered a 1-5 away defeat to Liaoning Tie Ren, ending their winning streak in both leagues.

Chengdu Rongcheng lost 0-3 away to Shandong Taishan in the CSL match last weekend, ending their unbeaten record of 12 consecutive matches in both leagues. In the previous two rounds of the FA Cup, Chengdu Rongcheng eliminated Shanghai Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the CSL bottom team Nantong Zhiyun, facing little challenge.

As it is a match between a CFA team and a CSL team, the foreign player usage rules will follow those of the CFA league. Chengdu Rongcheng’s super foreign player lineup cannot all play, but Wei Shihao will return from suspension in the FA Cup. It has been a month since Wei Shihao last played, and his performance is eagerly anticipated.

The two teams met in the 2021 season of the CFA league, where Chengdu Rongcheng remained undefeated with one win and one draw under the neutral venue system.

As the sole survivor from the CFA league, Nanjing City is focused and playing at home, unwilling to give up the chance to progress further. And Chengdu Rongcheng, with no hope of entering the top two in the league, also expects to make a mark in the FA Cup.

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