On May 26th, Beijing time, the 14th round of the Chinese Super League ignited with fierce competition as Chengdu Rongcheng hosted newly promoted team Qingdao West Coast. Before the match, Chengdu Rongcheng was ranked fourth in the standings, while Qingdao West Coast was placed tenth, indicating a notable gap between the two teams. After 90 minutes of play, Chengdu Rongcheng achieved a stunning 7-0 victory over Qingdao West Coast, creating a tragic outcome.
Chengdu Rongcheng has ambitions this season. Having fallen short at the doorstep of the AFC Champions League for two consecutive seasons, their goal is crystal clear. However, in the last round, Chengdu Rongcheng suffered a 0-2 defeat to Haigang, falling behind in the standings. A physical altercation between Leichter and Zhou Dingyang, along with a sudden increase in ticket prices, led to discontent among many fans. In this situation, Chengdu Rongcheng urgently needs a victory to stop the bleeding. Although Qingdao West Coast is not ranked low, they are only three points ahead of the relegation zone, far from being out of danger. Last round, Qingdao West Coast drew 2-2 with Changchun Yatai, delivering a performance that can be considered average this season.
In terms of starting lineup, Chengdu Rongcheng fielded their strongest team, with Romulo, Felipe, and Wei Shihao forming the attacking trio, Gan Chao and Zhou Dingyang controlling the midfield, Guerfynckel and Tang Miao providing width on the wings, and Yang Shuai, Yang Yiming, and Leichter partnering as the three central defenders, with Jiantao in goal. Qingdao West Coast fielded an all-Chinese lineup, led by naturalized player Alan, with Zhang Xiuwei, Duan Liuyu, and Zhao Hongliang in the lineup.
In the first half of the game, just 5 minutes into the match, Chengdu Rongcheng broke the deadlock. Tang Miao crossed from the right, and Felipe rose high to head the ball into the net, giving Chengdu a lightning-fast lead of 1-0. In the 11th minute, Romulo successfully intercepted in the opponent’s half and then sent a through pass, piercing through the Qingdao West Coast defense. Felipe’s one-on-one shot was saved, but Wei Shihao followed up with a rebound to make it 2-0, marking a dream start for Chengdu Rongcheng. Qingdao West Coast struggled to contain Chengdu Rongcheng, with Wei Shihao hitting the post at one point. In the 41st minute, Romulo and Felipe combined once again, with the latter facing the goalkeeper and calmly chipping the ball into the net to complete his brace, leading Chengdu Rongcheng to a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, as the game resumed, Eder came on as a substitute, while Alan seemed to be injured and was substituted off, prematurely dampening the suspense of the match. Chengdu Rongcheng’s attacks and goals continued. In the 50th minute, Park Se-ho fouled Hu Hotao in the box, handing Chengdu Rongcheng a penalty. The opportunity was taken by Eder, who scored his first goal of the season with ease. In the 68th minute, Hu Hotao intercepted and provided an assist, allowing Eder to calmly slot home his second goal, making it 5-0. In the 84th minute, Matijiang added another goal with a solo effort, extending the lead to 6-0. During injury stoppage time, Wei Shihao scored again to complete his brace, sealing the score at 7-0.
This match marked the biggest disaster of the current Chinese Super League season. Chengdu Rongcheng emerged from their previous slump, with the explosive performances of Eder and Wei Shihao bringing joy to the fans, especially considering the imminent World Cup qualifiers for the national team. However, what is more worrying is Alan’s injury. He was seen clutching his thigh in the first half, and the severity of his injury remains unclear. At a time when the national team needs its strongest players and Qingdao West Coast is fighting to avoid relegation, Alan’s injury is indeed a major blow.