Shaanxi Union FC vs Zhejiang 5-4 Pens: CFA Cup 2026 Full Match Score Review

Shaanxi Union FC vs Zhejiang delivered a CFA Cup knockout script built on momentum swings, tactical resets and penalty-box pressure. After 120 minutes ended 1-1, Shaanxi Union FC held their nerve in the shootout to win 5-4 on penalties, turning a tight cup contest into a dramatic statement victory.

Heading: Final Score And Match Snapshot

Shaanxi Union FC advanced after a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Zhejiang following a 1-1 draw at full-time and after extra time. The match was shaped by K. Tan’s 35th-minute opener, W. Wu’s 87th-minute equalizer, and a shootout sequence where Shaanxi’s late accuracy punished Zhejiang’s misses.

The scoreline tells only part of the story. Shaanxi were ahead at half-time, absorbed Zhejiang’s second-half adjustments, lost control late, but recovered the emotional advantage when the tie moved to penalties. In a game where every substitution altered the rhythm, the home side’s composure from the spot became the decisive metric.

Heading: First Half — Shaanxi Strike First Through K. Tan

The early pattern was tense and physical, and Shaanxi Union FC received the first disciplinary warning when K. Tan was booked in the 18th minute. Rather than fading after the yellow card, Tan became more central to Shaanxi’s attacking structure, operating with sharper timing between the lines.

Zhejiang were forced into an early change in the 28th minute as L. Haofan replaced L. Possignolo. That switch disrupted Zhejiang’s defensive continuity, and Shaanxi capitalized seven minutes later.

In the 35th minute, Shaanxi broke the match open. W. Shijie supplied the assist and K. Tan finished the move to make it 1-0. It was the defining first-half action: a goal created by controlled progression and converted by the same player who had earlier walked a disciplinary tightrope.

At half-time, Shaanxi Union FC led 1-0. The home side had the advantage, but Zhejiang’s bench activity suggested the second half would be approached with urgency rather than patience.

Heading: Second-Half Tactical Reset From Both Sides

The 46th minute brought a wave of substitutions. Shaanxi introduced S. Zhao for K. Cao and Y. Yu for F. Boyuan, refreshing their shape immediately after the interval. Zhejiang also acted decisively, bringing on Q. Tao for Z. Aihui and X. Junchi for T. Lei.

Those changes gave the match a different tempo. Zhejiang pushed higher and attempted to stretch Shaanxi’s defensive block, while Shaanxi looked to preserve compactness and use transition moments through their substitutes.

Shaanxi made another key move in the 70th minute, introducing A. Aniwar for W. Shijie. The substitution removed the provider of the opening goal but added a player who would later become vital in the penalty shootout. One minute earlier, Zhejiang had brought on D. Gao for S. Guarirapa, searching for more direct attacking impact.

Heading: Zhejiang’s Late Pressure Finally Breaks Through

The match tightened after the 75th minute when J. Wang was booked for Shaanxi. Zhejiang sensed vulnerability and increased pressure in the closing phase. Shaanxi responded with another change in the 73rd minute, W. Jin replacing Y. Chen, but Zhejiang continued to build territory.

In the 82nd minute, Zhejiang introduced F. Hao for Q. Tao, a substitution that showed their willingness to keep changing the attacking equation. The pressure paid off in the 87th minute when W. Wu scored the equalizer to make it 1-1.

That goal changed the emotional balance of the tie. Shaanxi had been minutes away from closing out the contest in normal time, but W. Wu’s finish forced the game into a more volatile zone. Zhejiang then saw X. Junchi booked in the 90th minute, underlining how stretched and tense the final exchanges had become.

Full-time arrived at 1-1. Extra time could not separate the teams, and after 120 minutes the score remained level. The CFA Cup tie would be settled by penalties.

Heading: Penalty Shootout — Shaanxi Hold Their Nerve

The shootout opened with Shaanxi’s D. Irandust scoring to put the home side 1-0 ahead. Zhejiang answered through A. Mitriță, who converted calmly for 1-1. Shaanxi then regained control when A. Aniwar scored, making it 2-1 and confirming the value of his 70th-minute introduction.

Zhejiang kept pace, scoring to make it 2-2. Shaanxi responded again, moving 3-2 ahead, before Zhejiang leveled at 3-3. The pressure spiked when Shaanxi missed their next attempt, allowing Zhejiang to score and lead 4-3.

At that point, the shootout appeared to tilt toward Zhejiang. But cup football often turns on the next kick rather than the previous mistake. Shaanxi scored to make it 4-4, Zhejiang missed, and the home side converted again for 5-4. Zhejiang then missed their following penalty, sealing Shaanxi Union FC’s victory.

Heading: Who Was The Hero?

K. Tan deserves the headline for starting the story. Booked early in the 18th minute, he stayed composed enough to score the 35th-minute opener from W. Shijie’s assist. In a knockout match, the first goal shapes risk, spacing and substitutions; Tan gave Shaanxi the platform.

But the shootout heroics belong collectively to Shaanxi’s penalty takers, especially D. Irandust and A. Aniwar, who both scored in the sequence. Aniwar’s contribution was particularly important because he entered as a second-half substitute and later delivered from the spot under extreme pressure.

For Zhejiang, W. Wu was the rescue figure in normal time. His 87th-minute equalizer forced extra time and nearly changed the direction of the tie. However, Zhejiang’s two late shootout misses proved too costly.

Heading: Tactical Takeaways From Shaanxi Union FC vs Zhejiang

Heading: Shaanxi’s Game Management Was Tested

Shaanxi led for more than 50 minutes after Tan’s opener, but Zhejiang’s second-half changes gradually pushed the match away from their control. The late equalizer exposed the risk of defending a narrow lead, yet Shaanxi’s recovery in the shootout showed mental resilience.

Heading: Zhejiang’s Bench Changed The Match

Zhejiang’s substitutions at 46, 69 and 82 minutes gave them fresh routes forward. The equalizer from W. Wu in the 87th minute was the reward for sustained pressure and tactical persistence, even though the final penalty outcome went against them.

Heading: Penalty Efficiency Decided The Tie

After 120 minutes of balanced football, the decisive difference was penalty execution. Shaanxi survived one miss, while Zhejiang’s late failures in the shootout allowed the home side to complete a 5-4 victory.

Heading: Complete Chronological Match Timeline

18’: K. Tan received a yellow card for Shaanxi Union FC.

28’: Zhejiang made an early substitution, L. Haofan replacing L. Possignolo.

35’: K. Tan scored for Shaanxi Union FC, assisted by W. Shijie. Shaanxi led 1-0.

45’: Half-time: Shaanxi Union FC 1-0 Zhejiang.

46’: Shaanxi introduced S. Zhao and Y. Yu, while Zhejiang brought on Q. Tao and X. Junchi.

69’: Zhejiang replaced S. Guarirapa with D. Gao.

70’: Shaanxi introduced A. Aniwar for W. Shijie.

73’: W. Jin replaced Y. Chen for Shaanxi.

75’: J. Wang was booked for Shaanxi.

82’: Zhejiang introduced F. Hao for Q. Tao.

87’: W. Wu scored Zhejiang’s equalizer to make it 1-1.

88’: Shaanxi brought on T. Tang for Z. Wei.

89’: Z. Wei replaced J. Wang for Shaanxi.

90’: X. Junchi was booked for Zhejiang. Full-time finished 1-1.

120’: Extra time ended 1-1.

Penalties: Shaanxi Union FC won the shootout 5-4.

Heading: Final Verdict

Shaanxi Union FC’s 5-4 penalty win over Zhejiang was a classic CFA Cup survival story. K. Tan gave them the first breakthrough, W. Wu dragged Zhejiang back from elimination, and the shootout transformed substitutes and spot-kick takers into decisive figures.

In the end, Shaanxi Union FC were not just the better penalty side; they were the team that recovered from the shock of an 87th-minute equalizer and still found the precision to finish the job.