Big news from the pitch: Chengdu Rongcheng have just punched their ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time ever! ⚽️🔥
Facing Thailand's Bangkok United at home at Phoenix Hill Football Stadium, the Chinese Super League side kept fans buzzing despite a goalless first half.
The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Romulo whipped in a corner that Yang Mingyang headed home. Just three minutes later, De Erjiaduo's long pass set up Brazilian striker Felipe, 33, for a cool finish into the right corner. Felipe then doubled the lead with a solo strike in the 83rd minute to seal the 3-0 victory.
With 41,713 fans packing the stands—a new stadium record—the atmosphere was electric. It’s a milestone moment for a club founded in 2018, whose roadmap aimed for top-tier Asian football in just a few years.
For young fans across South and Southeast Asia, this story is like watching a scrappy startup transform into a unicorn overnight. Here’s to more underdog triumphs lighting up the football scene! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
