AFC Champions League League Phase East - 2
Chengdu Better City 1 - 0 FT Gangwon FC
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
32' Hetao Hu
35' T. Chow (Yang Shuai)
HT
↓ Kim Min-Jun ↑Vitor Gabriel 61'
75' ↓ Liao Rongxiang ↑Li Moyu
↓ Y. Kang ↑Hwang Eun-Chong 77'
↓ Goo Bon-Cheul ↑Jung In-jeung 78'
Hwang Eun-Chong 85'
↓ Yun Il-Lok ↑Jeong Seung-Bin 86'
↓ Kim Dae-Woo ↑Yoo Byung-Heon 86'
88' ↓ Yang Ming-Yang ↑Y. Dong
90'+3 ↓ Yan Dinghao ↑Gan Chao
Do-Hyun Kim 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Chengdu Better City
Goalkeepers
Jian Tao 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
H. Hu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Ming-Yang 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yuan Mincheng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Shuai 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Y. Gurfinkel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Romulo 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
16%
Pass Acc
T. Chow 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Yan Dinghao 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
32%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Liao Rongxiang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Forwards
Felipe Silva 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
13
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Ran Weifeng 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Liu Dianzuo
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Wang Dongsheng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Dong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Li
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wang Ziteng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tang Xin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Xu Hong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gan Chao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Li Moyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tang Chuang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gangwon FC
Goalkeepers
Lee Gwang-Yeon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kim Sin-Jin 
MAGNET
78
Activity
78
Activity
72
Passes
6
Duels
Jo Hyun-Tae
MAGNET
97
Activity
97
Activity
87
Passes
10
Duels
Hong Chul
MAGNET
79
Activity
79
Activity
74
Passes
5
Duels
Midfielders
Goo Bon-Cheul
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kim Do-Hyun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kim Kang-Guk
MAGNET
75
Activity
75
Activity
64
Passes
11
Duels
Kim Dae-Woo
MAGNET
94
Activity
94
Activity
89
Passes
5
Duels
Yun Il-Lok
NPC
86
Minutes
86
Minutes
26%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
Forwards
Y. Kang
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Kim Min-Jun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
BENCH
Park Cheong-Hyo
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kim Tae-Hwan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hwang Eun-Chong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vitor Gabriel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jin Jun-Seo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yoo Byung-Heon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jeong Seung-Bin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Sung
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jung In-jeung
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -3
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Tactical Resilience Trumps Possession in Chengdu
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 12/100. Chengdu Better City broke their recent winless spell with a disciplined defensive display, punishing a dominant but toothless Gangwon FC side.
The Tactical Standoff at Phoenix Hill
The atmosphere at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium was thick with anticipation as Chengdu Better City looked to ignite their continental campaign. From the opening minutes, it was clear that the hosts were content to let the visitors dictate the tempo. An Intensity score of 1.6 reflected a match played more in the minds of the managers than in frantic physical exchanges. Gangwon FC monopolized the ball, utilizing an 81% pass accuracy to circulate possession across the pitch. However, Chengdu’s defensive block remained compact and unmoved. With a Balance rating of 1.5, the first half saw plenty of horizontal movement from the South Korean side but very little that truly threatened to breach the home side's stubborn rearguard.
Efficiency Over Volume
The defining moment of the match arrived against the run of play, highlighting the stark contrast in efficiency between the two sides. While Gangwon FC controlled a commanding 61% of possession, they lacked the creative spark required to dismantle the Chengdu setup, failing to create a single big chance throughout the contest. The pivot occurred when Chengdu Better City exploited a rare lapse in the visitors' concentration. Despite recording only one shot on target in the entire match, the hosts made it count. This clinical edge completely shifted the Stakes of the encounter, which sat at a 1.0 rating, forcing Gangwon to chase the game and abandon their patient buildup for a more desperate, direct approach that played right into Chengdu’s hands.
Holding the Line
The final phase was a masterclass in game management from the Chinese outfit. As the clock ticked down at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium, the defensive unit stepped up, committing 14 fouls to disrupt any rhythm Gangwon tried to build. The visitors launched 123 attacks but were met with a wall of resistance, managing just two shots on target that were comfortably handled. Even with an Upset Factor of 0.0, the result felt like a monumental relief for a Chengdu side that had endured a difficult run of form. When the final whistle blew, the statistics showed a team that had been outpassed and out-possessed, yet Chengdu Better City walked away with the points, proving that in knockout-style continental football, control of the scoreline is far more valuable than control of the ball.
Key Questions
Who won the match between Chengdu and Gangwon?
Chengdu Better City won the match 1-0 at home.
Which team had more possession during the game?
Gangwon FC dominated possession with 61% compared to Chengdu's 39%.
Where was the match played?
The match was played at the Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
AFC Champions League: A Battle for Survival in the East
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 17/100. This clash at Chengdu Phoenix Hill Football Stadium is less about continental prestige and more about surviving a period of tactical insecurity that threatens to derail both campaigns early.
The Setup
On September 30, 2025, Chengdu Better City welcomes Gangwon FC in a match where the margin for error has evaporated. For the hosts, a Form rating of 3.2 tells a story of domestic frustration; sitting 10th in the table with only one win in their last four home games, the pressure is mounting. The Stakes are intensified by the "survive and advance" nature of this knockout-style league phase fixture. Gangwon FC, currently 8th in their domestic league, arrives with a slightly better recent result but remains plagued by inconsistency. With a Stars score of just 1.6, this is a match that will be won in the trenches rather than through individual brilliance, as the Balance of both squads suggests a low-scoring, defensive struggle.
Key Battle
The primary conflict will unfold in the transition zones. Chengdu will rely on the creative distribution of Rômulo and Chow Tim to unlock a disciplined Korean backline. Without marquee individuals on the visiting side, Gangwon will likely deploy a rigid mid-block, forcing the home side to find width through Y. Gurfinkel. If Chengdu’s midfield cannot find the vertical passes to break the lines, the match risks becoming a stalemate of attrition.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey opening hour where neither side commits enough bodies forward to leave themselves exposed. Chengdu Better City's home woes are likely to persist, as their difficulty in converting draws into wins remains a recurring theme. Gangwon FC will be content to absorb pressure and look for a solitary opening on the counter. The most probable outcome is a 1-1 draw, a result that keeps both sides alive but does little to satisfy their respective ambitions of reaching the top-24 playoff line comfortably.