Half of the starting lineup was unavailable, giving head coach Kotsar a headache, and the two starters on the front line had to stick around with injuries.
In the semifinals, Dalian Shide Golden Balls won in overtime and Japanese powerhouse Shimizu held on 3-2. During the match, AFC actually sent West Asian referees to enforce the law, focusing on Dalian. Young player Zou Jie, who has become a starter, was sent off by referee Luo wei and suspended with a red card.
Before the start of the final, Dalian only had 14 Shide players available. Kosa barely joined the starting lineup. There were only three players left on the bench, veteran captain Xu Hong, young captain Zou Peng and young captain An Qi. An Qi was ready to start as a non-goalkeeper.
No. 22 Chen Dong guarded the Dragon Gate, the back line of No. 2 Wang Sheng, No. 16 Ji Mingyi, Brazilian defenders No. 3 Andersen, No. 4 Liu Yujian, No. 8 Wang Peng, No. 24 Zhang Yalin, No. 11 Yan Song, No. 14 Hu Zhaogun, No. 20, Brazilian winger Orlando partnered with his teammates. 87 minutes, Zou Peng No. 19 came on as a substitute, replacing Hu Zhaogun.
It is worth noting that 9 of the 12 Dalian Shide players in this match are U23s who now need the CFA's policy support, with Chen Dong and Wang Peng 23 years old, Ji Mingyi and Liu Yujian 21 years old, Hu Zhaogun, Yan Song, Zhang Yalin and Wang Sheng 20 years old, and Zou Peng only 19 years old.
In the first 20 minutes of the match, Dalian Shide fought tenaciously and the two teams were evenly matched. However, as the game progressed, the home team began to show their physical superiority, attacking in force to the cheers of more than 20,000 fans at home. Dalian's young defense was under a lot of pressure. However, the referee still needed to help the opposition break the deadlock with a goal. In the 24th minute, after contact with the attacking Chen Dong, the opposing player exaggerated. Although the opponent was suspected of faking, the referee decisively awarded a penalty kick. Although Chen Dong judged the correct direction, he still couldn't stop the ball from entering the net.
At the start of the first half, the two teams attacked and defended each other for the first 20 minutes, with Al Shabab holding a slight advantage over the cheering home crowd of more than 20,000 fans. After that, the home team started to strengthen their attack, hitting Dalian Shide's young defense that lacked tacit understanding. In the 24th minute, a home player entered the penalty area from the right and fell to the ground after making contact with attacking goalkeeper Chen Dong. Although the opponent was suspected of fake wrestling, the referee decisively awarded a penalty kick. The home team's No. 12 player put the penalty kick into the upper right corner. Although Chen Dong judged correctly, the ball was too fast, and Dalian Shide fell behind 0-1 on the road. Breaking the stalemate on the field, the morale of the home team was greatly boosted. After Dalian Shide kicked off from the center circle, the home team quickly broke the ball.
Dalian Shide counterattacked quickly! In the 28th minute, after a Dalian player broke through on the right, Yan Song, nicknamed Yan Million, stuck a header in the back to level the score at 1-2.
In the third minute after the start of the second half, Dalian's Shide was still two goals behind, and the whole team was seriously lacking in physical strength. In the 73rd minute, the opponent scored again, and Dalian Shide was 1-4 behind. In the last minute of full-time extra time, after attacking furiously, Dalian Shide, who still didn't give up, finally scored a goal. Unfortunately, there was not enough time and finally lost 2-4.
Twenty-two years have passed and the players who represented Dalian at that time have retired.
No update on the Brazilian wideout yet.
Currently, Chen Dong, general manager and first-team leader of Chinese B newcomer Dalian Zhixing Football Club, Hu Zhaojun and Zou Peng also hold positions at the club.
Currently, Liu Yujian serves as an assistant coach for Wuxi Wuhu, a team in the Central League.
Ji Mingyi and Wang Sheng in Chongqing and Yan Song in Shenzhen are engaged in youth soccer training. Wang Peng has set up the Moonbird Football Club in his hometown of Dalian, which focuses on youth training.
On February 14, 2010, Zhang Yalin passed away at a sadly early age.
