On December 6, Beijing time in China, in the final round of the AFC Champions League group stage matches
the three towns of Wuhan, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province
A 1-1 handshake with South Korea's Pohang Steelers brought an end to their AFC Champions League debut. Despite being in the "Group of Death" and facing tough opponents, the strength they showed in several matches should not be underestimated. However, they will need to work harder against lesser opponents in order to make a name for themselves in the next phase of the competition.
In the match against last year's champions, Urawa Red Diamonds, Wuhan Sanzhen had an impressive performance and almost won the match, but Kante's goal in extra time left them with no choice but to accept the draw. In the next round, they lost on the road against Pohang Steelers. At home, they beat Hanoi 2-1 for their first ever AFC Champions League win.
However, in the away match against Hanoi, Wuhan Three Town exposed the weakness of their weak team, which may have cost them the initiative to advance in the group. This is a profound lesson that should not be ignored when dealing with weak teams.
In the penultimate round, Wuhan Sanzhen once again faced Urawa Red Diamonds, with the opponents taking the lead at one point. In the second half, Sanzhen fought for an equalizer, but lost 1-2 due to a last-minute goal. The game was crucial for the promotion situation, and the final draw with Pohang Steelers was only a matter of honor.
Despite not advancing, Wuhan Sanzhen team showed the spirit of tenacity and hard work in the final round of matches. Li Kuibe's goal gave Sanzhen the lead, but in the end, the two sides drew. With one win, two draws, three losses and five points, Sanzhen finished their AFC Champions League campaign in third place in the group stage.
Despite failing to qualify, Wuhan Sanzhen's journey in the AFC Champions League deserves recognition and encouragement. This experience will undoubtedly become a valuable asset on the team's growth path.
