The promised Big4 of the Chinese Super League could not be missing. As a result, the strongest team in the country was eliminated by the eighth team of the Thai Super League in the qualification round. the Big4 became the Big3, just like missing a leg, which always makes people feel that there is something missing. In the first round of the new AFC Champions League season, the Chinese Super League teams achieved a record of 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss, which is neither good nor bad. As a result, fans were curious about what Hong Kong, which is about to win the league title, was doing instead of playing the AFC Champions League. The netizens' answer was ironic.
Overall, the performance of Chinese Super League teams in the first round of the AFC Champions League was generally satisfactory. Shandong Taishan substituted Kaya FC and took 3 points away from home. Wuhan Sanzhen drew with the defending AFC Champions League champions at home. The only regret is that Zhejiang was badly defeated by Buriram.
Shandong Taishan's win was a bit of a surprise, but it's normal for a starting lineup of 4 foreigners + 1 naturalized to win the Philippines. Wuhan Sanzhen was more of a surprise. After all, they were leading all the way before the match, and not many people favored them until injury time when they were defeated by Urawa Red Diamonds.
Zhejiang would have been optimistic, being split into the best group. All opponents could play a game except for Wuriham Strong. However, I still didn't expect them to be bested in the Super League Big3, losing 1-4 away. This is understandable considering the general lack of AFC Champions League experience among Zhejiang players.
When it comes to AFC Champions League experience, we have to mention Shanghai. During the "Golden Dollar Football" period, Shanghai's AFC Champions League performance was second only to Guangzhou Evergrande. Since Guangzhou's solitude, the top invested Chinese Super League (CSL) team has been recognized as the leading CSL team by default, and has been tasked with the responsibility of competing for the country in foreign wars similar to those of Guangzhou Evergrande in the past.
But to the great disappointment of the outside world, Shanghai, the first on paper, is a one-track mind, three consecutive seasons with the AFC Champions League: the 2021 season was eliminated by the Southeast Asian team Kaya FC in the qualifying rounds; the 2022 season was withdrawn due to the epidemic; and the qualifying rounds in the 2023 season were once again eliminated by the Southeast Asian team Batang United.
It used to be that fans of Shanghai used to pride themselves on being the Chinese Super League team with the best AFC Champions League record since Evergrande. Now that seems a bit ironic. However, a team based on Chongming Island has recently been touted by the Shanghai media as a "true national supporter".
Unfortunately, on the day of the first round of the AFC Champions League, all the members of Hong Kong showed off their party family photos. It's not shame, it's pride! As the strongest team in the Chinese Super League was eliminated, some self-respecting team will not choose the AFC Champions League match day party, even if the party, but also quietly for fear that others know the joke. You're not bad, you're even openly showing your "happiness".
As the saying goes: you don't do it for your country, but you're good at enjoying yourself at the back. After the first round of the AFC Champions League, fans couldn't stand to watch and trolled Shanghai Harbor.
Go to Hong Kong and see what the fans are saying! Some fans left a message to spit out the score of the AFC Champions League match in Shangshang? Others replied, "Dinner," "Fix the light bulb," while others replied : "Go to Hong Kong to celebrate with dinner, and next year you don't have to play the qualifying rounds." Some netizens said that even Baton Rouge United could not win, but also said that it is a national foster care worker.
