Calmly victorious, Chengdu Rongcheng returns fully energized after the break.

Reporter Lu Mi reporting. In the 27th round of the Chinese Super League, the key focus is clearly the head-to-head battles between the championship contenders and the relegation teams, with every match having the potential to alter the situation in both groups. Chengdu Rongcheng, playing at home, faced Meizhou Hakka from the relegation zone. Against fierce opposition, Rongcheng was first to score through Yang Mingyang, but after missing multiple prime opportunities, they were equalized. Thanks to Xu Zhengyuan’s tactical adjustments and the players’ composed responses, defender Timo stepped up to break the deadlock again, and Romulo sealed the win with another goal. Rongcheng’s 3-1 home victory over Meizhou Hakka marked one of the more comfortable wins among the title challengers this round, keeping them closely chasing Shanghai Port on the league table.

Compared to the AFC Champions League match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors two weeks ago, Rongcheng made several personnel changes: goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo started, the three center-backs were Yang Shuai, Yuan Mincheng, and Timo, with wing-backs Goulfinkel and Hu Hetao. Midfielder Zhou Dingyang was suspended, so Yang Mingyang and Yan Dinghao formed the midfield, while Wei Shihao missed the squad due to injury. Delgado continued as a starter.

This was a battle between a title contender and a relegation-threatened team, where only three points mattered most to both sides. Earlier, in the match between Shanghai Port and Hainan FC, the latter fought hard but ultimately lost 3-4, allowing the title contenders Shanghai Port to prevail. This made Rongcheng cautious against Meizhou, who also face relegation risks.

Due to Zhou Dingyang’s absence in midfield, Rongcheng faced some difficulty in ball distribution. Forwards Romulo and Felipe frequently dropped back, which was the main theme of the match. In the 15th minute, the team launched a quick midfield counterattack resulting in a brilliant shot, saved twice by Meizhou’s goalkeeper Guo Quanbo. Two minutes later, Rongcheng repeated this attacking pattern, breaking through Meizhou’s defense, with Yang Mingyang opening the scoring for the team.

“In the first half, we definitely dominated the game and pressured the opponent, but unfortunately, we didn’t convert more chances into goals. Throughout our preparations, we anticipated that Meizhou would retreat to a deep and compact defense,” said Xu Zhengyuan. Indeed, Meizhou, playing away, prepared well defensively and relied on counterattacks to challenge Rongcheng. Despite overwhelming attacking superiority in the first half, Rongcheng failed to score more, allowing the opponent to equalize on a counterattack.

Midfielder Xu Zhengyuan emphasized the importance of sustained attacking play. Facing the opponent’s stubborn defense, they needed patience and effective ball circulation to gradually break through. “We focused on quick passing in tight spaces, which led to our second goal — rapid ball movement in confined areas finished with a goal, just as we practice in training. The third goal was similar.” After the opponent switched to a five-defender formation through substitutions, Rongcheng’s relentless offensive waves continuously tore at Meizhou’s backline.

Just when the attack seemed stalled, Timo quietly advanced to the front. Receiving a pass from Felipe inside the penalty area, he unleashed a powerful shot in the 70th minute, putting Chengdu Rongcheng ahead again. This goal not only shifted momentum but also gave the team a huge psychological boost. Near the end, Romulo scored to seal the victory. Chengdu Rongcheng secured the win smoothly.

From a newly promoted team to a title contender, Rongcheng has shown mature control and adaptation of match tempo. When controlling possession and building attacks, they neither rushed nor played overly cautiously. When the opponent pressed high, Rongcheng’s defensive strategy was unified and opportunistic on counterattacks. In matches where both sides need three points, despite conceding once, the team maintained a solid foundation. Xu Zhengyuan also noted that improvements in details are needed going forward and that the team will review the gains and losses of this match.

After another break in the Chinese Super League, some teams might struggle to find their rhythm. As the title race and relegation battles intensify, those who maintain their tempo consistently are more likely to succeed. Undoubtedly, after enduring a tiring September of dual competitions, Chengdu Rongcheng has used the break to recover, and the whole squad has returned to an ideal condition once again.