Henan Football: Making History, But This Is Just the Beginning

Reporter Lumi reports On August 19th, a day worth remembering for Henan football, the Henan team held Rongcheng to a draw after 120 minutes away from home and finally knocked them out through penalties, reaching the FA Cup final for the first time.

Before this year’s FA Cup began, few probably paid much attention to Henan’s situation. In the upper half of the draw with strong teams like Shanghai’s two giants, Chengdu Rongcheng, and Shandong Taishan, Henan Jiuzhu Dukang, then struggling near the relegation zone in the league, had little presence in the cup competition. But starting from the away match against Tongliang Long, Henan’s attitude toward the FA Cup became clear—they were determined to fight all the way to the end.

While fighting hard to avoid relegation in the league, the team also aimed to advance in the FA Cup. Of course, pursuing good results in both competitions put heavy pressure on everyone in the team. However, facing pressure means opening a new chapter once overcome, and Henan was willing to take that risk. From overturning Zhejiang to surviving two tough away matches, these remarkable performances moved Henan fans deeply. The team finally broke the semifinal curse and reached the final. The rising giants of Central China—their sweat and tears along this path will be remembered in history.

In this season’s FA Cup, Henan’s first match was against Chongqing Tongliang Long. Ramos and his team regarded the FA Cup as equally important as the league. At that time, Ramos had just taken over the team two weeks prior, and Henan was still trapped in the curse of being overturned. He knew the team had to regain the feeling of winning to get back on track. Therefore, against the second-ranked China League One team, Ramos fielded most of the starters and successfully eliminated the opponent.

“After the draw, we quickly predicted the route to the final in our half of the bracket and knew our next opponent would be Zhejiang. We would host that match and believed we had the strength to handle it. Both sides are evenly matched, and we fear no challengers,” Ramos said. For Henan to advance further, they had to overcome two major hurdles—first, eliminating the winner of the Shanghai Shenhua vs. Shanghai Port match away, then likely facing another strong team. Winning again would secure a spot in the final.

After studying the schedule and Zhejiang as their next opponent, Ramos decided to give his all in the match against Zhejiang. “This half of the draw is very tough, and challenging for the cup is not the primary objective. But after assessing the players’ condition and Zhejiang’s previous cup performances, I chose to rotate the squad, and I have no regrets. We rotated players and won at home, passing another knockout round. Because we took this match seriously, all players gave their best,” Ramos explained.

After defeating Zhejiang, Henan faced Shanghai Shenhua. Facing Shenhua consecutively in both the cup and league was the toughest period this season, but they persevered. For Ramos, although it was the same opponent, the nature of the two matches differed, so the tactics varied. In the FA Cup against Shenhua, the team aimed to win within 90 minutes. Ramos knew Shenhua was offensively very strong and prepared for the possibility of conceding goals. That match was full of ups and downs, ending in a draw after extra time and decided by penalties, with Xu Jiamin, Cardoso, and Achimpen starring.

“When preparing for that cup match, I did something different—I told the team not to practice penalties. It was an unusual situation because normally I would have my team practice penalties in cup matches. But this time, I didn’t, to send a strong message that we could win in 90 minutes and that we had confidence to do so. Still, we were prepared; players sometimes practiced penalties in training, and we knew who stayed calm under pressure. Based on this, we deliberately skipped penalty practice before the match. It worked very well because our usual penalty training was effective, and we eventually won in the shootout,” Ramos said.

During the penalty shootout, Cardoso missed a penalty, putting the team at a disadvantage. The starting goalkeeper was second-choice Xu Jiamin, who became the key figure deciding the outcome. Before the FA Cup, Xu hadn’t played for almost a year. He cherished this opportunity and hoped to lead the team further. When the team fell behind in the shootout, his heart pounded fiercely, but he suppressed his nerves and stared down the opponents with unwavering determination.

“The pressure was immense. Even my family watching live couldn’t bear to look. The opponents had two match points to win. I focused on reading their eyes, playing a mental game to anticipate their penalty directions. Fortunately, I guessed correctly and always believed I could make the saves,” Xu Jiamin said.

When Xu saved Liu Chengyu’s penalty and saw all his teammates rushing over to celebrate, he shouted to the sky—a release of pressure and a reward for his long wait. “Right after the match, it felt like a dream; I had dreamed of this scene before.” Xu brought good luck to the team but suffered a serious injury shortly after returning to league play and now needs time to recover. Though saddened at first, he quickly came to terms with it. Watching the team eliminate Chengdu Rongcheng from home on TV, he shared the same feelings with the team—happiness and joy.

The match against Chengdu Rongcheng would decide if Henan could set a new record and reach the final in Suzhou. Ramos studied carefully beforehand, noting that Chengdu’s few conceded goals were no accident, making it difficult to score against them. He emphasized defense and hoped his team would play a more targeted, solid game.

“We know what kind of match it will be. The team must stay organized and manage emotions well. Sometimes we need to speed up the pace, other times slow it down. Controlling the game rhythm is crucial. At certain moments, we must keep possession and respond to the opponent’s tactics. Our preparation has been comprehensive,” Ramos said.

The match against Chengdu Rongcheng was indeed tough and tense—0-0 after 90 minutes and extra time. Henan was somewhat passive, but their hard-fought experience against Shenhua gave them confidence. When it came to penalties again, players appeared relaxed and confident, gaining a psychological edge. Cardoso, who missed previously, scored calmly this time, making up for his earlier miss. Notably, all remaining penalty takers were defenders. Ramos said, “It might sound strange, but the penalty order was decided by my assistant Renato, based on his deep knowledge of players’ training. I trusted him fully.”

“Do you want to take a penalty? If you’re confident, go ahead.” After this simple exchange, the shootout began. Henan’s players needed confidence in themselves and their teammates. When Wang Guoming stepped up to save Timo’s penalty, Henan celebrated last, making history by reaching the FA Cup final.

Xiao He, born in 1998, is not a long-time Henan fan; he started watching in 2023, a “newbie.” On the night of the FA Cup semifinal, he and some fans gathered outside Hangti Stadium in a lottery shop to watch. During the penalty shootout, he said his heart rate hit 180. “Especially at Rongcheng’s last penalty, everyone held their breath. When Guoming saved it, the whole place erupted.”

Xiao He had almost lost his voice but still shouted, “Suzhou, here we come.” That night, Henan fans who couldn’t travel to Chengdu likely felt the same excitement. Their joy was not only because the team made history but also because before this match and even before facing Shenhua, no one gave Henan much chance. “I believe that under Mr. Ramos’s leadership, we will definitely win,” he said.

“No matter the final result, we have already seen a brand-new Henan team and must support it unconditionally.” For Xiao He, a relatively new fan, these simple words carry sincere emotion. In Henan’s future history, more fans like him will be attracted by the team’s spirit and moved by the heroes who create miracles.

Off the field, players are ordinary people with feelings and sensitivities. But once they wear Henan’s jersey on the pitch, they transform into warriors who persevere until the end. They are heroes who strive to make achievements for Henan football.

Before the match against Chengdu Rongcheng, Ramos had the club staff contact each player’s family to record short videos of encouragement for the FA Cup semifinal send-off. The six-minute video, featuring voices from across regions, became a source of strength for the players. In their parents’ words, the players are “supermen,” “Huanhuan,” and “Haohao,” called “baby” regardless of age. They are invincible fathers in their children’s eyes and pillars of their families. The video was filled with affirmation, hope, and love, moving many players to tears. They turned this emotion into relentless energy on the field.

After battling Chengdu Rongcheng for 120 minutes, just before the penalty shootout, Maidana collapsed with symptoms of hypoglycemia. The intense defensive effort had exhausted him and Maya. Despite the pressure, he stepped up to take a penalty, pushing fatigue aside. When the final whistle blew, he cried like a child. Everyone knew his tears were a release after enduring mistakes and red cards. His wife Dara said in a video, “We believe your efforts will be rewarded. We will always stand behind you. We hope you bring victory home and fight for Henan. We will definitely reach the final!”

Fan Xiao He told the reporter that Ramos’s gesture showed his determination and confidence to lead the team to Suzhou. “I think that’s the magic of football.” Many fans are already planning their trips to Suzhou in December, unwilling to miss the most thrilling moment in 31 years of Henan football.

Henan is a veteran club in Chinese professional football but has never before reached the FA Cup final. This time, by winning a penalty shootout against strong Chengdu Rongcheng at Phoenix Mountain Stadium on a rainy night, they wrote a new chapter for Central China football. This victory marks Henan’s transformation in the FA Cup from mere participants to serious contenders, a milestone breakthrough since finishing third in the league during the Jianye era in 2009.

Throughout this journey, every match tells a story, and players, fans, and their families stand united. This unity is why this advancement touched so many people.

“Despite physical challenges and some players not getting game time, the team’s overall performance was excellent. This is very important to me. I saw those with limited playing time perform well. As a coach, this makes me very happy,” Ramos said.

Ramos believes every player is important and valuable, and all must be ready. These players have proven they can handle many changes, which is very gratifying for him as a coach.

In this team, seeing substitute players encourage their direct competitors by saying, “Play well, believe in yourself,” is beautiful—not only from a coach’s perspective but for anyone who loves the team.

Ramos feels fortunate to have two outstanding goalkeepers. “Jiamin has started every cup match this season, and I’m happy about their healthy competition and mutual support. Jiamin’s injury was tough; as someone who’s been there, I empathize. Their excellent performances aren’t accidental. All our goalkeepers have the ability to help the team. I trust every member of my team is equally excellent. Even when Guoming wasn’t at his best, he trained hard. I’ve seen it all. He seized his chance and is truly an outstanding player,” Ramos said.

When asked how the team made it to Suzhou, Henan players said, “We always believed that a team with dreams, pragmatism, and a commitment to executing the game plan, a team that is both a team and a family, can reach the shore of their dreams. That’s who we are.”

On their path to the final, Henan showed a resilient spirit that grows stronger against tough opponents. Facing two difficult away matches and winning after 120 minutes plus penalties against strong teams, they embody the tenacity of Henan football. This spirit will fuel their league campaign, helping them break through relegation pressure.

According to the 2025 AFC Champions League qualification rules, the FA Cup winner will directly qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite group stage. For Henan, who have been near the bottom of the league in recent years, this is a key opportunity to upgrade their resources. If they beat Beijing Guoan in Suzhou and win the title, the team will not only earn prize money but also gain a chance to enhance their brand value through international competition.

Against the backdrop of the Chinese Football Association’s recent “Encourage AFC Champions League Participation” policy, Henan’s breakthrough carries special significance. As a lower-tier team making a cup upset, their success proves the viability of a “low-cost, refined” operation model. This provides a model for Chinese football of “underdogs beating favorites,” stimulating competitiveness among smaller clubs. It is a crucial step in breaking the financial bottleneck in Chinese football.

The whistle in the Suzhou final this December will not only decide the trophy’s owner but also test whether Henan football can turn this historic breakthrough into sustainable momentum. As head coach Ramos said, “We have made history, but this is just the start.” Henan football stands at a new beginning, ready to write its own era on a broader stage.