On December 6, Beijing, the final round of the AFC Champions League group stage, Wuhan Sanzhen and Pohang Steelers had a fierce competition, and finally shook hands with a score of 1-1, which put an end to Wuhan Sanzhen's first-ever trip to the AFC Champions League. Despite being in the fiercely competitive "Group of Death", they showed their strength in several matches and should not be underestimated. However, the team will need to work harder against lesser opponents to move on to the next stage.
Facing the previous champions Urawa Red Diamonds, Wuhan Three Town delivered a satisfactory performance, almost decimating their opponents. However, Kante's goal at the end of the game forced the team to accept a draw. The team lost on the road to Pohang Steelers in the next round, but collected their first ever AFC Champions League win at home against Hanoi with a score of 2-1.
However, the team's weaknesses were exposed in the away match against Hanoi, and the problem of not being strong enough against a weak team may have cost them the initiative to advance to the group stage, making the road to the group stage a confusing one. This is certainly a wake-up call for the team not to take the underdogs lightly.
In the penultimate round, Wuhan Sanzhen met Urawa Red Diamonds again, and the opponents took the lead in the first half. In the second half, Sanzhen tried to equalize, but the opponent added another goal before the end and lost 1-2. This game was crucial for the promotion situation, and the final game against Pohang Steelers became a battle for honor.
Despite having no hope of advancing, Wuhan Sanzhen team showed their tenacity in the final round of matches. Li Kuibe's oval goal gave the team the lead at one point, but the opponents eventually equalized. In the end, the team finished their AFC Champions League debut with one win, two draws and three losses, accumulating five points and placing third in the group stage.
Although they failed to break through, Wuhan Three Town's performance in the AFC Champions League has earned them recognition and encouragement. This experience will be a valuable asset for the team to grow and accumulate valuable experience for future matches.
