The draw for the AFC Champions League has been completed and Ulsan Hyundai have given a precious gift to Shandong Taishan by drawing a relatively weak opponent. Shandong Taishan's performance against Chinese Super League teams is only 7 wins in 16 matches, so if they lose, they may be laughed at by Shanghai Harbor.
In the 2023-2024 Asian Champions League season, China sent four teams to participate in the tournament: Shanghai Seaport, Shandong Taishan, Zhejiang and Wuhan Sanzhen. Shanghai Seaport was eliminated from the tournament after losing 2-3 to Baton Rouge United in the play-offs. Zhejiang and Wuhan Sanzhen failed to qualify for the group stage, ending their AFC Champions League campaigns. Although Shandong Taishan lost in the final round of the tournament, they still advanced in a thrilling fashion, becoming the only Chinese Super League team to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League.
Due to the East Asia and West Asia divisions, Shandong Taishan will only meet East Asian teams in the knockout rounds. In the draw, Kawasaki Frontale drew Ulsan Hyundai, and because of the principle of avoiding teams in the same group, Kawasaki Frontale's opponent became Shandong Taishan. Kawasaki has played 16 times against Chinese Super League teams, but has only won 7 of those matches. Needless to say, Ulsan Hyundai gave Shandong Taishan a big gift. By drawing Kawasaki Vanguard, Shandong Taishan have come across an easy opponent to deal with.
Since the AFC Champions League was reorganized in 2009, Kawasaki Frontale has played 16 times against Chinese Super League teams, with a record of 7 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses. Kawasaki have played Beijing Guoan 4 times, winning 2 and losing 2. Guangzhou Evergrande also played 4 times with 2 wins and 2 draws. Against Guizhou Renhe, they won 2 times. Played against Tianjin Jinmen Tigers 1 time with 1 win and 1 loss. Played against Shanghai Seaport 4 times with 2 draws and 2 losses.
Looking at the history of matchups with Chinese Super League teams, Shandong Taishan is pretty lucky to have drawn an opponent in Kawasaki Striker. Despite the luck, it is hoped that Shandong Taishan will pick their battles and try to show their strength in their first encounter with Kawasaki Strikers, letting their opponents feel that the Chinese Super League doesn't have the golden dollars and big-name foreign aid, but still has the strength and competitiveness in the AFC Champions League. If Shandong Taishan is eliminated by Kawasaki Frontale, I'm afraid they will be made fun of by Shanghai Harbor.
Although Shanghai Harbour won the Chinese Super League in the 2023 season, they have been facing ridicule. One of the main reasons for this was their surprising 2-3 loss against Batang United in the AFC Champions League play-offs, regrettably failing to qualify for the AFC Champions League main round. At the time, Shanghai Seaport was ranked first in the Chinese Super League, while Batang United was in a tough situation in the Thai Super League, facing possible relegation. After Shanghai Seaport was eliminated, many fans began to mock them, saying, "See the real level of the Chinese Super League champions?
Despite Shanghai Seaport's performance no matter what, they managed to win the 2023 season. Shanghai Seaport met Kawasaki Frontale 4 times in the AFC Champions League, and achieved a satisfactory record of 2 wins and 2 draws in 4 unbeaten encounters. This shows that Shanghai Seaport's strength is not to be underestimated, and that there are always two possibilities of winning or losing a soccer match. They can win by accident, or they can lose by accident.
