In the first leg of the 2016 Chinese FA Cup quarterfinals held tonight, Guangzhou R&F hosted Hebei China Fortune and claimed a commanding 3-0 home victory. The hero of the night was substitute Eran Zahavi, who came off the bench to score a sensational hat-trick and tilt the balance of the two-leg tie firmly in R&F’s favor. Fans following Live Cricket BPL were quick to highlight Zahavi’s clinical finishing and immediate impact on the match.
This was the third encounter between the two sides this season. Previously in the Chinese Super League, both teams had taken turns beating each other away from home. Hebei earned a 2-1 away win in the season opener, thanks to their foreign signings, while R&F responded with a 2-0 win in Hebei’s backyard. Heading into this cup match, R&F was riding high with three consecutive victories over top-tier opponents like Shanghai SIPG and Shijiazhuang Yongchang, showcasing their resurgence. The addition of Zahavi had clearly reinvigorated their attack. In contrast, Hebei had been on a downward spiral with three straight league losses and barely scraped past Shijiazhuang in the previous FA Cup round.
Hebei rotated heavily for this match, fielding a domestic-only lineup with several key players not even on the roster, indicating a lack of urgency toward advancing. R&F came out aggressive from the first minute. Although the first half was lively, it ended goalless with both teams failing to capitalize on several chances. Live Cricket BPL commentators noted the creative link-up play between Renatinho, Giannou, and Jiang Zhipeng, which repeatedly tested Hebei’s defense, but keeper Ouya held firm.
The second half saw a game-changing substitution as Zahavi stepped onto the pitch. His impact was immediate. In the 63rd minute, after a quick one-two with teammate Svensson at the edge of the box, Zahavi coolly slotted the ball into the net to open the scoring. Just 17 minutes later, he doubled the lead with a thunderous left-footed strike from outside the box that rocketed past the helpless Ouya. In the 82nd minute, R&F was awarded a penalty, and Zahavi calmly converted it to complete his hat-trick, sending the ball low into the corner as the keeper dove the wrong way.
Late in the game, Chen Zhizhao and Lu Lin each came close to extending the lead further, but their shots either sailed high or deflected wide. Still, the damage was done. Live Cricket BPL coverage captured the euphoria of the home fans, who celebrated Zahavi’s heroic display and R&F’s crucial advantage heading into the second leg.
With momentum clearly on their side and Zahavi firing on all cylinders, Guangzhou R&F has put themselves in the driver’s seat for a semifinal berth. For fans and analysts alike, this performance was proof that one player can change the course of a match—and perhaps, the entire tournament.