In a thrilling Chinese Super League encounter on Saturday, Beijing Guoan staged a dramatic second-half comeback to secure a 2-2 draw against Chengdu Rongcheng at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Stadium in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
Chengdu Rongcheng, seeking to avenge their 2-0 defeat to Beijing Guoan earlier in the season, started the match with vigor. The home side dominated the first half, buoyed by the support of their fans after returning from a grueling stretch of three consecutive away games.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Zhou Dingyang delivered a precise assist to Romulo, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, giving Chengdu a deserved 1-0 lead. The momentum remained with Chengdu as Felipe doubled their advantage in the 39th minute, leaving Beijing Guoan trailing by two goals at halftime.
Facing an uphill battle, Beijing Guoan regrouped and adjusted their strategy during the break. Their renewed offensive approach paid off in the 52nd minute when Cao Yongjing capitalized on a corner kick to reduce the deficit to 2-1. This goal ignited Beijing’s attack, and they continued to pressure Chengdu’s defense with aggressive plays from the wings.
Despite Chengdu’s attempt to reinforce their backline by substituting Tang Miao with Hu Hetao in the 65th minute, Beijing Guoan found the equalizer just four minutes later. Lin Liangming’s timely strike leveled the score at 2-2, silencing the home crowd and shifting the momentum entirely.
Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive goal. While Chengdu Rongcheng missed the opportunity to secure a home victory, they remain comfortably in third place, nine points ahead of fourth-placed Beijing Guoan.
Other CSL Results
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 1-0 Henan
Tianjin Jinmen Tiger extended their winning streak to three matches with a narrow 1-0 victory over Henan. Wang Qiuming scored the game’s only goal in the 22nd minute, seizing on a chaotic scramble in front of the net. The win solidifies Tianjin’s position in sixth place.
Changchun Yatai 3-2 Nantong Zhiyun
In a match filled with twists and turns, Changchun Yatai edged Nantong Zhiyun 3-2. Serginho opened the scoring for Changchun in the 27th minute, but Nantong responded with goals from Issa Kallon and Jiang Zilei before halftime. Serginho played a pivotal role again, assisting Robert Beric’s equalizer in the 80th minute. The dramatic comeback was completed in stoppage time when Tian Yuda headed home after Stoppila Sunzu’s initial effort was saved, sealing a crucial win for Changchun.
Cangzhou Mighty Lions 2-1 Meizhou Hakka
Cangzhou Mighty Lions overcame Meizhou Hakka with a 2-1 victory. Wang Peng put the hosts ahead in the 40th minute with a header from Heber’s corner. Meizhou thought they had equalized through John Mary, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul. Georgiy Zhukov extended Cangzhou’s lead in first-half stoppage time. Despite Mary’s successful penalty in the second half, Meizhou couldn’t find an equalizer, with Liao Junjian’s header denied by the crossbar in the dying moments.
Reference(s):
Beijing Guoan spoil Chengdu Rongcheng's bid for revenge with 2-2 draw
cgtn.com
