Beijing Guoan secured a dramatic 2-2 (4-3 penalties) victory over Qingdao West Coast in the Chinese FA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, ending their two-year quarterfinal exit streak and booking a semifinal clash with Yunnan Yukun. The match in Qingdao, Shandong Province, delivered edge-of-the-seat action with late goals, defensive errors, and a tense penalty decider.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Wang Ziming capitalized on a defensive mishap by He Longhai. Qingdao responded swiftly through Aziz Yabuku's 62nd-minute equalizer after Beijing goalkeeper Hou Sen fumbled a save. Extra time saw Cao Yongjing's 115th-minute strike for Beijing overturned by Davidson's header two minutes later, forcing penalties.
Qingdao's shootout hopes crumbled early as Yabuku's opening penalty was saved and Matheus Indio blasted over the bar. Beijing converted all four attempts, with Zhang Xizhe sealing their semifinal berth. The result marks Qingdao West Coast's best-ever FA Cup campaign despite the heartbreak.
Analysts note Beijing's progression could boost investor confidence in Chinese football's commercial appeal, while sports tourism operators anticipate increased interest in semifinal host cities. The match drew significant attention from the Asian diaspora, with livestreams trending across Southeast Asian platforms.
