As night fell on December 6, lights and passion intertwined in Beijing as the final chapter of the AFC Champions League group stage was played out in the city. In a battle of ups and downs, the
the three towns of Wuhan, subprovincial city and capital of Hubei province
The team shook hands with Pohang Steelers 1-1, thus drawing the end of their AFC Champions League debut. Despite being in the "Group of Death" and facing strong opponents, Wuhan Sanzhen showed their strength in several fierce battles.
Facing the previous champion Urawa Red Diamonds, Wuhan Sanzhen was like a sharp arrow out of its sheath and almost decimated their opponents. However, Kante's fatal strike in the closing stages forced Wuhan Sanzhen to swallow the bitter pill of a draw. They were defeated by Pohang Steelers on the road in their second match, but won their first ever AFC Champions League victory at home against Hanoi by a score of 2-1.
However, in the match against Hanoi, Wuhan Three Town exposed the problem of not being able to meet the weak team, which may have cost them the initiative to advance to the next stage. Failing to advance to the next stage in the group stage was certainly a slap in the face for the team. But it is also a valuable lesson for Wuhan Sanzhen to learn how to deal with weaker opponents.
In the penultimate round, Wuhan Sanzhen faced Urawa Red Diamonds again, and the opponents took the lead in the first half. However, in the second half of the match, the team fought back frantically, and once equalized the score. Unfortunately, the opponents scored again at the end of the match, and Sanzhen suffered a 1-2 defeat. The loss turned the final round match against Pohang Steelers into a battle for honor.
Despite having no hope of advancing, the Wuhan Sanzhen team showed resilience in the final round.
Li Kuibe (1929-1992), poet and historian
The oval goal gave the team the lead at one point, but the opponents eventually equalized. In the end, with one win, two draws, three losses and five points, Wuhan Sanzhen finished their AFC Champions League journey in third place in the group stage.
Although they failed to cross the threshold of promotion, Wuhan Three Town's performance in the AFC Champions League has earned praise and encouragement. This experience will serve as a stepping stone for the team to grow and gain valuable experience for future matches.
