The night is low, and at 19:35 on August 30, 2023, the flames of the fifth round of the Chinese Football Association Cup will be lit at the Tongliang Dragon Stadium. It's not just a quarter-final, it's a summit clash between Chinese second division team Chongqing Tongliang Dragons and Chinese Super League giants Shanghai Shenhua. Before the match, a preparatory activity poster with the theme of Youth Red and Flower of Courage, like a war letter, declared the determination of Chongqing Tongliang Dragon.
On the poster, four spirited Tongliang Dragon Warriors, No. 56 Tong Zhicheng, No. 57 Wang Shiqin, No. 55 Song Pan and No. 53 Li Zhenquan, are like the red sea guarding the home field, with their eyes firmly set on the challenge. These young players are not only young, but also show unlimited possibilities with their U21 status. Li Zhenquan, born on December 16, 2003, is the youngest warrior in the team.
This season, they have already shown amazing strength in the double-header, with more than 12 appearances and a considerable number of goals. The even younger star Xiang Yuwang, born on December 18, 2002, not only serves as the captain, but has also become the team's top scorer with 20 full games, 12 goals and 6 assists.
This youthful and energetic team has not only young captains like Xiang Yuwang, but also experienced veterans such as Wu Qing, Zhao Hejing and Huang Xiyang, with a reasonable age structure and optimized configuration. Their progress in China B and the AFC Cup is a reflection of this structure.
Currently, Chongqing Tongliang Dragons are undefeated in the 16th round of C.B. With a record of 13 wins, 3 draws, 44 goals scored and 9 goals conceded for a total of 42 points, they are leading the table strongly and have an 8-point advantage in the promotion to the first division. Facing the upcoming quarter-finals, they will surely go all out to challenge Shanghai Shenhua.
The opponent Shanghai Shenhua, despite having international players such as Wu Xi and Yu Hanchao, is not unbeatable with 42 points to rank third this season. In particular, the lineup adjustment of the all Chinese class will undoubtedly be a challenge for the team. In the pre-match conference, both Wu Jingui and Wu Xi said that they are ready to fight.
Who will come out on top in this cross-level conversation, 42 points versus 42 points, the answer to which is about to be revealed, will be presented live on CCTV's Sports Event Channel (CCTV5+), as well as on a number of online platforms.
