# 2018 Chinese FA Cup

Yanjing Beer 2018 Chinese FA Cup (Chinese: 燕京啤酒2018中国足球协会杯) was the 20th edition of the Chinese FA Cup. On 29 December 2017, Yanjing Beer extended their sponsorship contract for another four years (2018–2021).

## Schedule

The schedule was as follows.
| Round | Dates | Clubs remaining | Clubs involved | Winners from previous round | New entries this round | New Entries Notes |
| Preliminary round | 11–18 November 2017 | 92 | 16 | none | 16 | |
| Qualifying round | 30 December 2017 – 7 January 2018 | 84 | 24 | 8 | 16 | |
| First round | 17–18 March | 72 | 16 | 8 | 8 | last 8 teams from the 2018 China League Two and last 8 teams from the qualifying round |
| Second round | 24–25 March | 64 | 32 | 8 | 24 | top 20 teams from the 2018 China League Two and top 4 teams from the qualifying round |
| Third round | 10–12 April | 48 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 16 2018 China League One teams |
| Fourth Round | 24–25 April | 32 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 16 2018 Chinese Super League teams |
| Fifth Round | 1–2 May | 16 | 16 | 16 | none | |
| Quarter-finals | First leg 9 June and 7–8 July Second leg 24–25 July | 8 | 8 | 8 | none | |
| Semi-finals | First leg 21–23 August Second leg 25–27 September | 4 | 4 | 4 | none | |
| Final | First leg 24–25 November Second leg 1–2 December | 2 | 2 | 2 | none | |

## Home Advantage Decision

According to Chinese FA Cup Procedure, in each round, home team advantages are decided as follows.
| Rounds | Rules |
| First round | According to FA Cup draw. |
| Second round | According to FA Cup draw. |
| Third round | The team in lower tier in 2018 season decides whether they play at home. |
| Fourth round | The team in lower tier in 2018 season decides whether they play at home. |
| Fifth round | Teams in different tiers: The team in lower tier in 2018 season decides whether they play at home. Teams in the same tier: The team ranked higher in 2017 season decides whether they play at home. |
| Quarter-finals | Teams in different tiers: The team in higher tier in 2018 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. Teams in the same tier: The team ranked lower in 2017 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. |
| Semi-finals | Teams in different tiers: The team in higher tier in 2018 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. Teams in the same tier: The team ranked lower in 2017 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. |
| Final | Teams in different tiers: The team in higher tier in 2018 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. Teams in the same tier: The team ranked lower in 2017 season will hold the 1st leg and the other team hold the 2nd leg. |

## Qualifying rounds
### Association ranking

For the 2018 Chinese FA Cup preliminary round, the local football associations are allocated places according to the total number of FA Cup matches of all amateur clubs associated to local FAs from 2011 to 2016. Shanghai Jiading Boji, who advanced to the third round of 2017 Chinese FA Cup, and the champions and the runners-up of 2017 "I Love Football" Chinese Football Nongovernmental Championships would join the qualifying round directly.
| Rank | Association | Points | Teams |
| 1 | Dalian FA | 12 | 3 |
| 2 | Guangdong FA | 10 | 3 |
| 3 | Qingdao FA | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | Jiangsu FA | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | Zhejiang FA | 8 | 2 |
| 6 | Wuhan FA | 6 | 2 |
| 7 | Shenyang FA | 5 | 2 |
| 7 | Shandong FA | 5 | 2 |
| 7 | Shanghai FA | 5 | 2 |
| 10 | Guangxi FA | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | Changchun FA | 2 | 2 |
| Rank | Association | Points | Teams |
| 11 | Shanxi FA | 2 | 2 |
| 11 | Nanjing FA | 2 | 2 |
| 14 | Hebei FA | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Henan FA | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Nei Mongol FA | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Xi'an FA | 1 | 2 |
| 14 | Hubei FA | 1 | 2 |
| 19 | Heilongjiang FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Jilin FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Liaoning FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Yanbian FA | 0 | 1 |
| Rank | Association | Points | Teams |
| 19 | Beijing FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Tianjin FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Gansu FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Ningxia FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Qinghai FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Shaanxi FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Xinjiang FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Chengdu FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Guangzhou FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Hunan FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Shenzhen FA | 0 | 1 |
| Rank | Association | Points | Teams |
| 19 | Hainan FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Anhui FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Jiangxi FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Fujian FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Xiamen FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Chongqing FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Guizhou FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Yunnan FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Sichuan FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Tibet FA | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Kunming FA | 0 | 1 |

### Preliminary round

29 teams registered to participate in the qualifying rounds of the 2018 Chinese FA Cup. Teams ranked 9–13 in the north group and Teams ranked 6–17 in the south group participated in this round.

#### South Group
### Qualifying round

Teams ranked 1–8 in the north group, teams ranked 1–5 in the south group, 8 preliminary round winners, Shanghai Huajiao and Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang, the champions and the runners-up of 2017 "I Love Football" Chinese Football Nongovernmental Championships and Shanghai Jiading Boji, who advanced to the third round of 2017 Chinese FA Cup will participate in this round. Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang, already qualified as top five teams in the south group, left a vacancy which was filled by Nanchang Teneng. Shenyang West Winner, already qualified as top eight teams in the north group, withdrew and replaced by Chifeng Hongshan Shire.

#### Format

Format of qualifying round was a variation of Double-elimination tournament with three rounds as follows.
* Round 1: Team 1 VS Team 2; Team 3 VS Team 4
* Round 2: Winners from the Round 1 would compete against each other and the winner would qualify and be ranked the 1st; Losers from the Round 1 would compete against each other and the loser would be eliminated and ranked the 4th.
* Round 3: The remaining two teams would compete against each other and the winner would qualify and be ranked the 2nd while the loser would be eliminated and ranked the 3rd.

#### Group A

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Dalian Tongshun | 1(6) | | | |
| 4 | Guangzhou Haoxin | 1(7) | | | |
| 4 | Guangzhou Haoxin | 1(7) | Guangzhou Haoxin (Q) | Guangzhou Haoxin (Q) | 3 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Guangzhou Haoxin (Q) | Guangzhou Haoxin (Q) | 3 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Liuzhou Ranko | Liuzhou Ranko | 1 |
| 3 | Liuzhou Ranko | 4 | Liuzhou Ranko | Liuzhou Ranko | 1 |
| 2 | Hunan Sports Lottery | 3 | | | |
| Dalian Tongshun | Dalian Tongshun | 2 | | | |
| Hunan Sports Lottery | Hunan Sports Lottery | 0 | | | |
| Hunan Sports Lottery | Hunan Sports Lottery | 0 | Liuzhou Ranko | Liuzhou Ranko | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Liuzhou Ranko | Liuzhou Ranko | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Dalian Tongshun (Q) | Dalian Tongshun (Q) | 5 |

#### Group B

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Wuhan Chufeng Heli | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Nanjing Shaye | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Nanjing Shaye | 1 | Wuhan Chufeng Heli (Q) | Wuhan Chufeng Heli (Q) | 5 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Wuhan Chufeng Heli (Q) | Wuhan Chufeng Heli (Q) | 5 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Baotou Fanmeng | Baotou Fanmeng | 1 |
| 3 | Shenyang City Public | 2 | Baotou Fanmeng | Baotou Fanmeng | 1 |
| 2 | Baotou Fanmeng | 3 | | | |
| Nanjing Shaye | Nanjing Shaye | 1 | | | |
| Shenyang City Public | Shenyang City Public | 0 | | | |
| Shenyang City Public | Shenyang City Public | 0 | Baotou Fanmeng | Baotou Fanmeng | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Baotou Fanmeng | Baotou Fanmeng | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Nanjing Shaye (Q) | Nanjing Shaye (Q) | 5 |

#### Group C

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Changzhou Tianshan | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Nanchang Teneng | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Nanchang Teneng | 0 | Changzhou Tianshan | Changzhou Tianshan | 0 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Changzhou Tianshan | Changzhou Tianshan | 0 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Ningbo Yinbo (Q) | Ningbo Yinbo (Q) | 4 |
| 3 | Qingdao Elite United | 0 | Ningbo Yinbo (Q) | Ningbo Yinbo (Q) | 4 |
| 2 | Ningbo Yinbo | 3 | | | |
| Nanchang Teneng | Nanchang Teneng | 1(3) | | | |
| Qingdao Elite United | Qingdao Elite United | 1(1) | | | |
| Qingdao Elite United | Qingdao Elite United | 1(1) | Changzhou Tianshan (Q) | Changzhou Tianshan (Q) | 5 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Changzhou Tianshan (Q) | Changzhou Tianshan (Q) | 5 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Nanchang Teneng | Nanchang Teneng | 0 |

#### Group D

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Hubei Huachuang | 0(3) | | | |
| 4 | Chongqing High Wave | 0(0) | | | |
| 4 | Chongqing High Wave | 0(0) | Hubei Huachuang | Hubei Huachuang | 0 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Hubei Huachuang | Hubei Huachuang | 0 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Dalianwan Qianguan (Q) | Dalianwan Qianguan (Q) | 2 |
| 3 | Dalianwan Qianguan | 1(5) | Dalianwan Qianguan (Q) | Dalianwan Qianguan (Q) | 2 |
| 2 | Qingdao Kunpeng | 1(3) | | | |
| Chongqing High Wave | Chongqing High Wave | 4 | | | |
| Qingdao Kunpeng | Qingdao Kunpeng | 5 | | | |
| Qingdao Kunpeng | Qingdao Kunpeng | 5 | Hubei Huachuang | Hubei Huachuang | 1 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Hubei Huachuang | Hubei Huachuang | 1 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Qingdao Kunpeng (Q) | Qingdao Kunpeng (Q) | 2 |

#### Group E

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | 3(4) | | | |
| 4 | Chifeng Hongshan Shire | 3(3) | | | |
| 4 | Chifeng Hongshan Shire | 3(3) | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | 1 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | 1 |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Shanghai Jiading Boji (Q) | Shanghai Jiading Boji (Q) | 6 |
| 3 | Shanghai Jiading Boji | 9 | Shanghai Jiading Boji (Q) | Shanghai Jiading Boji (Q) | 6 |
| 2 | Changzhi Popeye | 2 | | | |
| Chifeng Hongshan Shire | Chifeng Hongshan Shire | 4 | | | |
| Changzhi Popeye | Changzhi Popeye | 0 | | | |
| Changzhi Popeye | Changzhi Popeye | 0 | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | Hainan Dingli Flying Tiger | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Chifeng Hongshan Shire (Q) | Chifeng Hongshan Shire (Q) | 1 |

#### Group F

| First round | First round | First round | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals |
| 1 | Jinan Dayou | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Dalian Ruiheng | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Dalian Ruiheng | 2 | Dalian Ruiheng | Dalian Ruiheng | 1(2) |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Dalian Ruiheng | Dalian Ruiheng | 1(2) |
| Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Winner's bracket | Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang (Q) | Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang (Q) | 1(4) |
| 3 | Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang | 2 | Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang (Q) | Hangzhou Wuyue Qiantang (Q) | 1(4) |
| 2 | Shanghai Huajiao | 1 | | | |
| Jinan Dayou | Jinan Dayou | 1 | | | |
| Shanghai Huajiao | Shanghai Huajiao | 0 | | | |
| Shanghai Huajiao | Shanghai Huajiao | 0 | Dalian Ruiheng | Dalian Ruiheng | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Dalian Ruiheng | Dalian Ruiheng | 0 |
| Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Loser's bracket | Jinan Dayou (Q) | Jinan Dayou (Q) | 3 |

## First round

Shenzhen Pengcheng and Sichuan Jiuniu replaced Qiqihaer Zhongjian Bituminous Concrete and Lhasa Urban Construction Investment who withdrew from 2018 China League Two in the original draw.

## Second round

Baotou Nanjiao and Fujian Tianxin replaced Chengdu Qbao and Shanghai JuJu Sports who withdrew from 2018 China League Two in the original draw.

### Notes

* ^ Jilin Baijia was given home advantage according to the rules, but the match was later switched to be hosted by Shanghai Sunfun.

## Third round
### Notes

* ^ Jilin Baijia was given home advantage according to the rules, but the match was later switched to be hosted by Wuhan Zall.

## Bracket (quarter-finals onwards)

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Jiangsu Suning (1) | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Guangzhou R&F (1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Guangzhou R&F (1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | Guangzhou R&F (1) | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | |
| | | | | Beijing Sinobo Guoan (1) | 5 | 3 | 8 | | | | |
| Shanghai SIPG (1) | 1 | 2 | 3 (4) | Beijing Sinobo Guoan (1) | 5 | 3 | 8 | | | | |
| Beijing Sinobo Guoan (1) (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (5) | | | | | | | | |
| Beijing Sinobo Guoan (1) (p) | 2 | 1 | 3 (5) | | | | | Beijing Sinobo Guoan (1) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | Shandong Luneng Taishan (1) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Guizhou Hengfeng (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | | Shandong Luneng Taishan (1) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Shandong Luneng Taishan (1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Shandong Luneng Taishan (1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | Shandong Luneng Taishan (1) | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| | | | | Dalian Yifang (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| Sichuan Jiuniu (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Dalian Yifang (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | |
| Dalian Yifang (1) | 3 | 2 | 5 | | | | | | | | |

## Quarter-finals
### Second leg

Dalian Yifang won 5–0 on aggregate.
Shandong Luneng Taishan won 3–0 on aggregate.
3–3 on aggregate. Beijing Sinobo Guoan won 5–4 on penalties.
Guangzhou R&F won 3–2 on aggregate.

## Semi-finals
### Second leg

Shandong Luneng Taishan won 4–0 on aggregate.
Beijing Sinobo Guoan won 8–1 on aggregate.

## Final
### First leg

Hou Sen :
| RB | 28 | Jiang Tao |
| CB | 3 | Yu Yang |
| CB | 19 | Yu Dabao (c) |
| LB | 4 | Li Lei |
| CM | 5 | Renato Augusto | | 90+1' |
| CM | 6 | Chi Zhongguo |
| CM | 8 | Piao Cheng |
| AM | 23 | Jonathan Viera | 90+4' |
| AM | 10 | Zhang Xizhe |
| CF | 17 | Cédric Bakambu |
| Substitutes: |||
| GK | 25 | Guo Quanbo |
| DF | 15 | Liu Huan |
| DF | 18 | Jin Taiyan |
| DF | 24 | Zhang Yu |
| DF | 30 | Lei Tenglong | | 90+1' |
| MF | 26 | Lü Peng |
| FW | 7 | Wei Shihao |
| Manager: |||
| Roger Schmidt |||
Han Rongze :
| RB | 35 | Dai Lin |
| CB | 4 | Gil |
| CB | 6 | Wang Tong |
| LB | 5 | Zheng Zheng |
| RM | 17 | Wu Xinghan | 40' | 54' |
| CM | 22 | Hao Junmin (c) |
| CM | 33 | Jin Jingdao |
| LM | 13 | Zhang Chi |
| CF | 19 | Graziano Pellè | 45' |
| CF | 9 | Diego Tardelli | | 84' |
| Substitutes: |||
| GK | 1 | Liu Zhenli |
| DF | 3 | Liu Junshuai |
| DF | 11 | Liu Yang | 76' | 54' |
| MF | 7 | Cui Peng |
| MF | 16 | Zhou Haibin | | 84' |
| MF | 23 | Song Long |
| FW | 29 | Cheng Yuan |
| Manager: |||
| Li Xiaopeng |||
* Assistant referees:
* Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
* Jakhongir Saidov (Uzbekistan)
* Fourth official:
* Li Haixin (Guangzhou FA)
* Video assistant referee:
* Gu Chunhan (Wuhan FA)
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Zhang Long (Xi'an FA)

### Second leg

Han Rongze :
| RB | 35 | Dai Lin | 62' 90+5' |
| CB | 4 | Gil |
| CB | 6 | Wang Tong |
| LB | 5 | Zheng Zheng | 56' |
| RM | 17 | Wu Xinghan | | 29' |
| CM | 22 | Hao Junmin (c) |
| CM | 33 | Jin Jingdao | | 84' |
| LM | 13 | Zhang Chi | | 65' |
| CF | 19 | Graziano Pellè |
| CF | 9 | Diego Tardelli | 57' |
| Substitutes: |||
| GK | 1 | Liu Zhenli |
| DF | 3 | Liu Junshuai | | 84' |
| DF | 11 | Liu Yang | | 65' |
| MF | 7 | Cui Peng | 71' | 29' |
| MF | 16 | Zhou Haibin |
| MF | 23 | Song Long |
| FW | 29 | Cheng Yuan |
| Manager: |||
| Li Xiaopeng |||
Hou Sen :
| RB | 28 | Jiang Tao |
| CB | 3 | Yu Yang | 64' |
| CB | 19 | Yu Dabao (c) | 38' |
| LB | 4 | Li Lei |
| CM | 5 | Renato Augusto |
| CM | 6 | Chi Zhongguo | | 90+4' |
| CM | 8 | Piao Cheng | | 90+6' |
| AM | 23 | Jonathan Viera | 90+3' |
| AM | 10 | Zhang Xizhe | | 87' |
| CF | 17 | Cédric Bakambu |
| Substitutes: |||
| GK | 25 | Guo Quanbo |
| DF | 15 | Liu Huan |
| DF | 18 | Jin Taiyan |
| DF | 24 | Zhang Yu | | 90+4' |
| DF | 30 | Lei Tenglong | | 87' |
| MF | 26 | Lü Peng | | 90+6' |
| FW | 7 | Wei Shihao |
| Manager: |||
| Roger Schmidt |||
* Assistant referees:
* Tevita Makasini (Tonga)
* Mark Rule (New Zealand)
* Fourth official:
* Jin Jingyuan (Chongqing FA)
* Video assistant referee:
* Ma Ning (Jiangsu FA)
* Assistant video assistant referees:
* Wang Di (Shanghai FA)
3–3 on aggregate. Beijing Sinobo Guoan won on away goals.

## Awards

* Top Scorer: Jonathan Viera (Beijing Sinobo Guoan) (5 goals)
* Most Valuable Player: Zhang Xizhe (Beijing Sinobo Guoan)
* Fair Play Award: Sichuan Jiuniu
* Dark Horse Award: Shenyang Urban

### Most Valuable Player of The Round

| Round | MVP | Club |
| 1 | Xia Shicong | Jinan Dayou |
| 2 | Song Zhenyu | Shaanxi Chang'an Athletic |
| 3 | Wang Jingbin | Shanghai Shenxin |
| 4 | Zhang Wenzhao | Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao |
| 5 | Yan Junling | Shanghai SIPG |
| QF | Jonathan Viera | Beijing Sinobo Guoan |