In the just concluded first phase of the China B League, six teams stood out, they are Tai'an Tianci, Jinan Xingzhou, Dongguan United, Wuxi Wuhou, Dandong Yuejin and Yanbian Longding, aiming for the first division league. According to the official news, the second stage of the first group is expected to kick off in October, the six teams will start a fierce single round of competition, after five rounds of competition, and finally determine the top three. It is worth mentioning that the top three teams will not only qualify for promotion to the first division, but will also qualify for the second stage of the AFC Cup. Among them, Taian Tianzhi is expected to compete for two valuable places at the same time.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Central Champions League will also compete in the second stage, but the exact list of teams is yet to be announced.
The draw for the first stage of the AFC Cup has been finalized, with 18 teams taking their positions. In Dalian, Qingdao Hainiu and Heilongjiang Bingcheng will face each other, Suzhou Dongwu will face Beijing Polytechnic, and Zibo Cuju will face Shanghai Jiading Huilong. In Tangshan, Nantong Zhiyun and Shijiazhuang Kungfu will have a strong dialog, Jiangxi Beidamen will challenge Xinjiang Tianshan Xuebao, and Kunshan will face Liaoning Shenyang City. In Nanjing, Nanjing City will face Qingdao Fanghua Island, Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic and Guangxi Pingguo Ha Loud and Clear, and Sichuan Jiuniu will meet Beijing North Physical Education University. The matches will be played on a single-game tiebreaker basis, with the winners advancing to the next round.
The second phase of the competition will begin with a full complement of Super League teams. In the second and third rounds of the competition, a single match will be used to determine the winner, while in the fourth and fifth rounds, a two-legged format will be used. The final will be a one-game tie, with the venue chosen by the FA. In terms of the choice of home and away venues, for single-game tie-breakers, the lower-ranked team in the same league will have the home advantage, while for teams in different leagues, the lower-ranked team will be given priority in choosing a home venue. There will be no extra time in any of the matches leading up to the final, and in the event of a tie, there will be a penalty shootout.
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