Four teams secured their spots in the Chinese FA Cup quarterfinals after a weekend of high-stakes football, with Beijing Guoan surviving a dramatic penalty shootout to advance. The round of 16 saw underdog victories, last-minute equalizers, and tactical surprises that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Beijing Guoan's Nail-Biting Victory
Beijing Guoan overcame Dalian Yingbo in a tense 6-5 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Dalian's Cephas Malele opened the scoring via a first-half penalty, but Dawhan's stoppage-time equalizer forced the match into penalties, where Beijing's resilience sealed their quarterfinal berth.
Guangdong Stuns Super League Side
Second-tier club Guangdong GZ-Power delivered the weekend's biggest upset, defeating Chinese Super League team Tianjin Jinmen Tiger 2-0. Ma Junliang broke the deadlock before Brazilian striker João Carlos sealed the victory with a clinical finish, showcasing lower-league teams' growing competitiveness.
Yunnan and Qingdao Advance
Yunnan Yukun edged Shaanxi Union 2-1 with goals from Pedro Henrique and Oscar Maritu, while Qingdao Hainiu overcame Guangxi Hengchen 2-1 despite rotating their squad. Both teams demonstrated strategic depth ahead of the quarterfinals.
Attention now turns to Sunday's remaining matches, including the Shanghai derby between Port and Shenhua, which promises to cap off this stage of China's premier knockout tournament in style.
