Key Takeaways
- Chengdu Rongcheng sit top of the Chinese Super League with 22 points and 23 goals from just eight matches
- John Aloisi secured a dominant 4-0 victory over his brother Ross in a historic family derby
- Points deductions for nine rival clubs have given Chengdu a clear advantage in the title race
John Aloisi arrived in Chengdu only a few months ago. Already, supporters hail him as the next Ange Postecoglou. The Australian coach has turned Chengdu Rongcheng into an attacking force.
The club leads the Chinese Super League after eight games. They have dropped only two points. They have scored 23 goals. Large crowds fill the Phoenix Hill Sports Park Football Stadium every week. The team now dreams of its first championship just eight years after the club began.
“We have never played like this before,” says local fan Li Chen. “We believe we can win every match. Postecoglou conquered Japan. Muscat won in Shanghai. Now Aloisi can triumph here.”
Saturday brought a special occasion. It was the “brotherly derby”. John’s older brother Ross manages Zhejiang. The family clash ended 4-0 to Chengdu. More than 41,000 fans watched. Ross looked dejected at the final whistle. He has collected only three points from eight games because of point deductions. His position is under serious threat.
Chengdu played with flair and energy. Four different forwards found the net. Wellington Silva, who once trained with Arsenal, opened the scoring. Felipe added his 12th goal of the campaign. Wei Shihao and Behram Abduweli also struck.
Aloisi has changed the tactics. Last season, the team used five defenders. Now they employ fluid 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 formations. The defence operates with more confidence. Han Pengfei, a 32-year-old centre-back, has revived his career with greater responsibility on the ball. Rômulo controls the game from the number 10 position. The side’s work rate has improved dramatically.
Fortune also favours Chengdu. Nine teams received points deductions for financial violations. Reigning champions Shanghai Port began the season on minus five points. Last year’s runners-up Shanghai Shenhua started on minus ten. This leaves Chengdu four points clear at the summit.
Chengdu has never been a football city to rival Dalian or Shanghai. That reputation is changing.
The season is only one-quarter complete. Greater challenges await. On Friday, Chengdu face Shanghai Shenhua on a national holiday. Without their deduction, Shenhua would trail by just two points. A victory for them in front of 60,000 supporters could alter the standings. However, Aloisi, like Postecoglou and Muscat before him, now fights for East Asian silverware. The contest promises thrills. History could be in the making.