Chengdu Rongcheng delivered a football masterclass on Friday night, thrashing Qingdao West Coast 5-1 in a Chinese Super League clash that doubled as a birthday celebration for hat-trick hero Felipe Silva. The victory solidifies Rongcheng's position at the league summit, witnessed by 41,352 roaring fans at their Sichuan home ground.
The hosts dominated from the opening whistle, with Wellington Silva breaking through in the 7th minute. Russian midfielder Egor Sorokin extended the lead before halftime, setting the stage for Felipe Silva's second-half fireworks.
The Brazilian striker stole the spotlight with three clinical finishes, including two rapid-fire goals in the 83rd and 86th minutes. His stoppage-time third goal triggered a stadium-wide rendition of "Happy Birthday" for the 34-year-old forward.
Qingdao’s Abdul-Aziz Yakubu provided a consolation goal in added time, his first since joining the club in February. The result leaves West Coast facing defensive questions ahead of their next fixture.
Chengdu now prepares for a crucial April 9 showdown against Beijing Guoan, carrying momentum from this emphatic victory into the capital clash.
