Two consecutive draws yielded 0-0, but the national soccer team played more successfully against Lebanon in this match compared to Tajikistan.
The team's scoring chances were more evenly and frequently distributed over time than in the previous match, but unfortunately, they failed to capitalize on them. Luckily for the national soccer team, they still hold the initiative to advance with two points from their first two matches.
01. National Football League Strategy: Confront the Spell Edge and Seize the Chance of Corner Kicks
a. Comparative Confrontation! The National Football League is still conceding a little more goals in the middle of the field?
It was clear from the start of the game that Lebanon had a much stronger front top of the side in their last game against Qatar, no longer just three men up front on the counter attack.
In fact, National Soccer Team head coach Jankovic wanted to press back the opponent's formation. He put a lot of thought into the side attack, hoping to get our side defense to run up the field with Zhang Linmiao's forward tops and Dai Weijun's side pickups during the offensive and defensive transitions.
This time, Liu Binbin's cross from the right went to the back post and the opposition clearance gave an edge ball. Zhang Yuning then pulled out to meet him and Liu Yang used his footwork to win the pass and create a corner.
The soccer representative team attacked a corner kick very threateningly and then allowed Zhang Yuning to make the ball for Wu Lei to finish the shot.
One of the most successful offensive and defensive transitions of the first half was for Zhang Yuning to become the ball winner and find Wu Lei, who was starting to move forward on the other side of the field.
In this game, Zhang Yuning was at a disadvantage against the competition, but he had the technical advantage and still played some pivot roles.
Dai Weijun passes back to his teammate and goes straight to the back post looking for Zhang Yuning. This time the ball was beautifully done, but unfortunately Wang Shangyuan took the ball and tried to pass to Wu Lei, giving it just too much.
It was an extremely successful sideways push that led to chances up front.
b. The national soccer team has a lot of chances: always get some space from the sides
The National Football League had 58 percent possession in the first half, leading 7-6 in shots and holding a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The ability to play better on the field than the previous game was due to the fact that this game was pushed forward well on the edges to create crosses.
This wave of attacks was also a classic case of Dai Weijun working with wingback Liu Yang before sending a cross from the side.
The opponent's clearance error, Zhang Yuning's first shot was parried, Wu Lei grabbed the second point, allowing Zhang Yuning to regain possession of the ball, but unfortunately the successive shots were still deflected by the goalkeeper.
Just before the end of the first half, this time with the opposition's attention focused on Liu Binbin in front of him, Zhang Linmiao decisively brought the ball forward before sending in a quality cross.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yuning's header attack was not powerful enough to pose much of a threat. As the Lebanese players were very strong in this game, the national strikers had a very difficult time against them, so the last shots were soft.
02. Tactical game: Lebanon is better against the run, but not in the middle of the offense.
a. Comparative Confrontation! The National Football League is still conceding a little more goals in the middle of the field?
Despite their efforts and hard work, the national players are still significantly behind in terms of efficiency in one-on-one confrontations, due to the fact that the Lebanese players are stronger.
Fortunately, the opponents are relatively uncreative, with poor vision for ball distribution and a general sense of cooperation when advancing through the middle. Their offense also relies on back-passes from the sides, which brings direct impacts or long-range shots into the penalty area.
Xu Xin played 71 minutes as the starting midfielder in this match, winning only 2 of 11 one-on-one confrontations at the feet. This time, after Xu Xin was cut off, the opponent got a chance to counterattack. Fortunately, the Lebanese player had an average idea of what to do with the ball and failed to match it.
However, Dai Weijun got the ball and then was countered by the opponent in the confrontation. Fortunately, the national soccer players worked very hard and the opponent could not play a real threat as they advanced in the middle of the field.
For Lebanon to play an effective offense, they still need to take advantage of the side defense setting up a back side pass. Or cover the run with the man without the ball, bringing space for the ball carrier to cut inside and then shoot directly from distance.
They're in the ribs and middle of the field, and there's not a lot of teamwork, which allows the three center backs to stand up to the National Football League and the pressure to be less intense.
On the other hand Lebanon is not very fast. In the whole game this was their most successful counterattack.
The key was that the power was always dominant and Bugli dropped back to receive the ball, causing the National Football League to miss with the ball. On the counter attack, Bugiri puts the ball on and then receives it, but he opts to shoot straight at the goal.
b. Often smashed in the penalty area: Lebanon will be more threatening
Lebanese center forward Bugiri was a significantly better individual compared to Zhang Yuning, who attempted 32 one-on-one confrontations throughout the match, winning 20.
Especially when he was physical in the first half, winning 10 of 13 one-on-one confrontations. Fortunately, he's not good at passing or selecting. He only made 13 passes and succeeded in 4.
This time, on Lebanon's second attack from a corner kick, front man Jaradi gave the edge set up to wingback El-Zeni, who entered the box. This time, the header was so threatening that it almost completed the goal.
Lebanon opted for a lot of long passes to the center, using Bugli's individual ability to create chances when the positional play in the middle of the field didn't penetrate.
In the case of continuous running, the national football team's double back coverage will also have problems, and can only rely on the three center backs to carry hard.
Bugli is really strong individually and luckily his passing isn't good. This time the return was slightly stronger and his teammates couldn't get a hold of it.
However, with the continuous folding, the double backs of the national soccer team were a bit overwhelmed. It was easy for the opponents to penetrate through the straightaway and then opt for a long shot instead of trying to break through the third center back of the national soccer team.
Yan Junling parried the ball away, only for the strength of Lebanese winger El Zenibi to completely open up Liu Yang for a second attack. Luckily, center forward Bougheri's header flew close to the goal.
03. The national football team's backhanded substitution was unsuccessful: Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei are still the best combination.
a. The national soccer team played better than in the first game: they were lucky to get a draw.
As you can see by the stats, the National Football League had 60.1% possession in the game, leading 14-12 in shots and 7-5 in shots on goal.
Although they didn't win, the national soccer team actually created a chance. Unfortunately, Wu Lei missed it. But it should be noted that Wu Lei can get away with these chances. If he gives him up easily, others will do worse.
Despite the uptick on the offensive end, the turnover rate in the middle of the field for the National Football League's advance was still evident.
This time Dai Weijun went forward with the ball on a counterattack, only to have the ball broken up and played back. After an inside cut, Matouk took a shot that hit the crossbar and also allowed the national soccer team to escape.
In the first two matches of this Asian Cup, the national football team did not concede a goal, just rely on the thickness and hardness of the three center backs, go against the opponent is not easy to enter the core area.
Lebanon are good from long range, but they were unlucky to hit the crossbar twice in this game.
b. National team wants to score: still have to trust Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei
Although Wu Lei missed two great scoring chances in this game, we still need to see that when he is present, the national football team can complete a fatal strike at any time.
On only 16 occasions, Vuolei finished with five shots, two of which were on goal and three of which came fairly close to scoring.
Many people only see that Wu Lei missed the chance to shoot, but they don't realize that Wu Lei got the goal because of his excellent movement.
On this corner kick attack, Wu Lei, who was originally at the back of the penalty area, suddenly started and ran a big arc and managed to take over with Zhang Yuning to finish the shot.
Unfortunately, the middle of the opponent is densely staffed, and the National Football League cover runners are spread out and unable to bring a loose stance to help Wu Lei penetrate the wall of men.
Before being subbed off, Wu Lei took one last touch and came very close to breaking through on goal. He reacted quickly in front of the goal, but his last shot was slightly underpowered, but it was actually enough to score.
The Lebanese defender was really physical, focused and explosive, finishing with an incredible goal-line clearance.
Wu Lei is getting older and his ability has really declined. However, in terms of movement in front of the goal and sensitivity to chances, other national soccer teams can't compare. Even if Wu Lei substitutes for the backhand in the upcoming matches, he will still be the team's hope to win the game.
Conclusion:
Two points from the first two games of the group stage is not bad news for the national soccer team, which is not far from reaching the round of 16 after all.
Qatar is likely to use substitutes in the final round after locking up first place in the group early. Even if the national soccer team scores one point, it may still finish second in the group. Even if they become the third place in the group, it is still possible to advance to the round of 16, which may be considered to have reached the minimum goal.
