FA Cup: Upsets as Two China League Two Dark Horses Charge Forward

Special Correspondents: Ding Xu & Gan Lan In the FA Cup's fourth round, two third-tier sides produced classic "lower beats higher" results. Dalian Kewei beat Liaoning Tieren 1-0, and Lanzhou Longyuan Athletics (hereafter "Lanzhou") triumphed 6-4 on penalties (1-1 after 90 minutes) over Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, both progressing to the round of 16.

As a newly promoted League Two side, Kewei started from the first round of the FA Cup, successively eliminating Shanxi Tailichangsheng, Wenzhou, and Nantong Zhiyun before meeting Tieren in the fourth round.

The match was intriguing, with many Kewei players having ties to Liaoning football. Head coach Xu Hui was a key figure in Liaoning's "Ten Consecutive Titles," China's first Asian Club Championship win, and Wanda's "Eight Golden Crowns."

Before the game, Xu Hui prepared for a tough battle, asking his players to stay focused. In the 10th minute, Yu Zeyuan’s precise left-wing cross found captain Ge Yuxiang, who slotted home from close range. After the goal, Ge Yuxiang and his teammates celebrated wildly, igniting the north stand.

After taking the lead, Kewei withstood Tieren’s fierce counterattacks. Xu Hui constantly encouraged his players from the sideline and adjusted tactics promptly. In the second half, he made substitutions to compensate for the players' declining stamina. Ultimately, Kewei held on to the 1-0 scoreline until the final whistle, securing a spot in the last 16.

Veteran goalkeeper Zhang Chong made crucial saves, playing a decisive role. He previously played for Shide, Aerbin, Yifang, and Dalian Pro, embodying "one city, one man." Returning to the Sports Center, Zhang Chong was emotional: "I was moved to see so many fans. Beating a Super League team is such a joy—it feels like the old days."

"From the group to the club to the team, we took this match very seriously." When the FA Cup draw was revealed in early March, Kewei's potential fourth-round opponent was Tieren, and almost no one believed Kewei would actually face them, let alone defeat them. In fact, while focusing on the League Two campaign, Kewei had always wanted to challenge Tieren. After eliminating Nantong, they prepared thoroughly for this derby.

To meet fan demand, Kewei moved their home ground from the training base to the Sports Center, which holds 61,000 spectators. After 1,049 days, the venue welcomed a Dalian team again. The Dalian Football Reform and Development Working Group, Dalian Football Association, Kewei, and the Sports Center all put in tremendous effort for the venue change.

Tieren could not field foreign or Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan players, but Kewei still faced a gap—the pace of League Two differs from the Super League. Tactically, Xu Hui did not employ a bus-parking defense; he dropped Zhang Xianbing deeper to strengthen midfield pressing, interception, and linking play. By the end of the first half, Kewei was already struggling, and they held on through sheer grit for most of the second half.

In the end, Kewei secured the win, showcasing the spirit of Dalian football. The players were exceptionally united, tenacious, and executed tactics well. Their outstanding performance thrilled the 17,688 fans in attendance. For the first time in three years, the north stand of the Sports Center echoed with "Sha La La."

By pulling off an upset in the derby, Kewei gave Dalian fans a wonderful Dragon Boat Festival holiday and gained many new supporters. "We are grateful to the Dalian fans who support Kewei. They truly fought alongside the team," said a Kewei player.

Kewei Football Club was founded on October 25, 2024. In 2025, they earned promotion to the professional league by finishing third in the China Champions League. From management to coaching staff to players, Kewei has strong Dalian roots. Among Dalian's four professional clubs, Kewei boasts the highest number of local players.

Team leader Lin Shuangpeng said, "Kewei is a very energetic club. We will work hard to make the team more competitive and cohesive, achieving better results." Wang Xuanhong, Cui Zhongkai, and Wu Dingmao have recently transitioned from players to coaches, bringing fresh vitality to the coaching staff.

In their first year in League Two, Kewei is currently in the promotion zone, and in their first FA Cup campaign, they have reached the round of 16.

Kewei hopes to carry forward the spirit of Dalian football, steadily improve their competitive level, and strive for further achievements in the professional league, contributing to the revitalization of Dalian football. "For Dalian, for Kewei, keep fighting!" said Xu Hui.

In the fourth round of the FA Cup, Lanzhou, ranked ninth in the League Two Northern Division, defeated Super League side Tianjin Jinmen Tigers 6-4 on penalties (1-1 in regular time) to reach the last 16. This was their second consecutive upset after eliminating Meizhou Hakka in the previous round.

Due to the FA Cup's "reciprocity principle," Jinmen Tigers could not field foreign or Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan players. Moreover, under relegation pressure, they did not field a full-strength lineup, giving opportunities to youngsters like Liu Junxian, Li Sirong, and Chen Zhexuan. Lanzhou, in contrast, fielded their strongest side, with Mu Qianyu, Zhang Junzhe, and Abakere all starting.

From the kickoff, Lanzhou took the initiative, but it was Jinmen Tigers who scored first. In the 20th minute, Wang Zhenghao headed in from Liu Junxian's free kick. In first-half stoppage time, Li Sirong conceded a penalty, and Zhang Junzhe converted to level the score.

Neither side scored in the second half, and according to the rules, the match went straight to penalties after 90 minutes. The first three rounds were all converted. In the fourth round, Liu Junxian's penalty was saved by Mu Qianyu. In the fifth round, Yuan Zheng calmly chipped a Panenka-style penalty into the net, giving Lanzhou a 5-3 shootout win and a 6-4 aggregate victory to eliminate Jinmen Tigers and advance to the round of 16.

Last year, Lanzhou won their first-round FA Cup match against Shanxi Chongde Ronghai but lost 0-2 to Liaoning Tieren in the second round. This season, they eliminated Guangzhou Shudi Red (a China Champions League team) in the first round and Meizhou Hakka (a League One team) in the second, then beat a Super League side—setting a new best FA Cup record for professional football in Gansu Province.

After the disappearance of Gansu Tianma and Gansu Aoxin, professional football in Gansu fell into a lull. Longyuan Athletics filled the void: on January 20, 2025, the CFA announced that Shandong Rizhao Yuqi's registration had been transferred from the Shandong FA to the Gansu FA. A month later, the CFA announced that Rizhao Yuqi had been renamed Lanzhou Longyuan Athletics.

"Long" is an abbreviation for Gansu, and "Yuan" broadly means land or field. "Athletics" symbolizes competition, challenge, and self-transcendence. Local media interpreted the name "Longyuan Athletics" as reflecting "Lanzhou's determination and confidence to create a more comprehensive and diverse football ecosystem."

Notably, at the Fifth Session of the 17th Lanzhou Municipal People's Congress, the city government explicitly stated in its work report the goal of "supporting Lanzhou's professional football team in participating in the China League Two," providing a solid foundation for the club's operations.

Last season, Lanzhou overcame numerous difficulties to secure relegation three rounds early and subsequently passed the licensing process smoothly.

This season, Lanzhou changed their head coach. On May 3, the club announced that former Xiamen Feilu (Xiamen 1026) boss Huang Shibo would take over, with Hu Wei serving as assistant coach.

During his playing career, Huang Shibo featured for Super League clubs such as Xiamen Blue Lions and Shijiazhuang Yongchang. As a coach, he led Xiamen 1026 to an unbeaten China Champions League title in the 2025 season.

So far in the League Two season, Lanzhou has recorded 2 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses, placing them ninth in the Northern Division. They have conceded only 7 goals, showing solid defense, but their 4 goals scored are the fewest among all participating teams. The coaching staff will need to focus on improving the attack going forward.

According to the schedule, the FA Cup fifth round will be held on July 21 and 22, with a new draw for the 16 remaining teams.