“Three kills” against Taishan, Chengdu Rongcheng has made a strong start to the grueling schedule.

Reporter Lu Mi reports. Last season, in both the league and the FA Cup, Chengdu Rongcheng suffered a "three kills" at the hands of Shandong Taishan. This season, in the first round of the league, Rongcheng triumphed over their opponent away, and in the FA Cup, they also eliminated them smoothly. The final "revenge" is only left with the home battle against Taishan. On the evening of August 2, Chengdu Rongcheng faced Shandong Taishan led by Han Peng. Although both teams were evenly matched in the first half, Felipe scored twice and caused a red card for the opponent, ultimately helping the team win 2-1. By defeating Taishan, they achieved a "three kills" this season, boosting the team's confidence and providing a strong start for the grueling schedule ahead on August 7.

In this match, Wei Shihao returned from suspension, perfectly replacing Delgado, who had a clause preventing him from playing. The previous home victory against Beijing Guoan had already narrowed the gap with the second-placed team. Before this match, Yunnan Yukun was battling with the league leaders Shanghai Shenhua and leading them, giving Chengdu Rongcheng further hope for advancement.

Compared to the first two matches of this season, Shandong Taishan has undergone significant changes; the coaching position has changed, personnel have shifted, and their playing style has evolved, altering their overall demeanor. Under Han Peng's leadership, Taishan deployed the same formation as Chengdu Rongcheng, making it a wise choice for the home team to avoid rushing into the game.

In the first half, both teams frequently transitioned between offense and defense. In the sweltering heat, they engaged in a fierce midfield battle. Taishan clearly came prepared, as Han Peng's tactical arrangements limited the play of Zhou Dingyang and Yang Mingyang. In the first half, both players were surrounded when receiving and distributing the ball, restricting the team's overall offensive coordination and putting them on the back foot.

“Given the hot weather, I anticipated that today’s match would be very challenging. While tactics are important, what matters more is that the heat can reduce players' focus, making it difficult for them to execute runs or compete for second balls. I emphasized this point to all players before the match. Today, I felt every player on the field gave their all,” said Xu Zhengyuan. The impact of the weather on the players' performance was even more severe than Xu had expected. Throughout the first half, although the team had more than 10 shots compared to the opponent’s 3, the actual gameplay was quite challenging. Fortunately, Felipe broke the deadlock by scoring first amidst the difficulties; he received a cross from Gurlfinkel, controlled the ball with his chest, and then finished past the opponent's defender, showcasing his individual talent.

However, Taishan quickly equalized, employing a combination of wing and central play, exposing several issues in Chengdu Rongcheng's central defense during the first half. “At halftime, I reminded all players to keep it simple in the second half, to receive the ball in better positions, and to pass quickly rather than focusing on how fast we can run. The main goal is to ensure the ball moves quickly and control the game.” Quick transitions after gaining possession have been key to maintaining an advantageous playing style for Chengdu Rongcheng in most of their previous matches, but under Taishan's targeted restrictions, they faced significant difficulties in this game. In such circumstances, the team’s most mature response was to continually seek solutions to break through obstacles.

Felipe frequently dropped back to collect the ball, even seizing opportunities to dribble into the penalty area to set up teammates. Wei Shihao continuously changed his position in the attacking front, attempting to manipulate the opponent's defense while creating chances for midfielders to make runs. Through these repeated attempts and tactical adjustments, the situation completely shifted in the second half. In the 56th minute, Wang Dalei, while defending against Felipe outside the penalty area, raised his hand and struck Felipe's face. After reviewing the video, the referee issued a straight red card.

With one less player, Taishan had to substitute a midfielder for backup goalkeeper Yu Jinyong. Rongcheng quickly took control of the match, and Felipe completed a brace shortly thereafter. Although Felipe was substituted due to injury towards the end, Xu Zhengyuan fully acknowledged his value: “Felipe scored twice after a long time, and he has played a crucial role in our team. I want to congratulate him on his goals. Recently, all our players have been united and working together, which is the most important reason for our victory today.”

With this victory, Chengdu Rongcheng has finally achieved "three kills for revenge" against Taishan in their three encounters this season, marking a testament to the team's growth this year. However, the team has little time to savor this joy, as they face a total of seven matches in August, officially beginning their battle on three fronts.

After the away match against Dalian Yinfeng, the team will host Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League qualifying match, marking their first appearance on the Asian stage, and the pressure is palpable. Xu Zhengyuan also stated: "The next home match will be our first appearance for Chengdu Rongcheng in the AFC Champions League. It is a very important playoff. I believe this playoff is significant for Chengdu football, so we will definitely give our all; no one wants to lose this match. We will prepare seriously to secure the win and advance to the main event."