While Yatai's defense failed one after another, Taishan smiled with four goals and achieved a seemingly fluke victory. However, analyzing the process and content of the game in depth, Taishan undoubtedly performed better. The backline obviously learned from the lessons of the battle with Henan, and made targeted adjustments to the opponent's foreign aid and counterattack strategy. On the offensive side, they patiently laid out the ball, and the players in front of them passed the ball accurately, with a high degree of tacit understanding, and even if they were ahead, they didn't relax their defense.
Compared to the lineup against Guangzhou City in the last round, Taishan made two adjustments for this game. Liu Yang replaced Song Long and formed the back line with Dai Lin, Jia Desong and Wang Tong. On the right side of the midfield, Liu Binbin replaced Duan Liuyu and partnered with Chen Pu, while Sun Junhao and Moises dropped back in the center of the midfield, with Moises frequently inserting himself and the gaps filled by other midfield teammates. The forward positions were occupied by Kressan and Kim Kyung Do.
Perhaps it was the 33 shots on goal against Yatai in the previous round that produced the shock, the game began with Yatai taking a deep retreat, ceding the midfield and possession to Taishan in an attempt to utilize Eric's speed and breakthroughs to create counterattacks. In fact, Taishan team has always been more scrupulous about fast counterattack, but the opponent's retreat too deep, positional battle Taishan team almost no chance, Eric's counterattacks but brought a lot of trouble to Taishan team. However, Taishan team this game on the opponent's counterattack strategy to make a targeted arrangement, the front of the tight pressure from the source to exert pressure, Liu Binbin twice from the back of the field to keep a close eye on Eric, forcing the other side to pass the ball attack, the hasty end. Junior was also tightly guarded, almost no threatening attack throughout the game.
The stalemate was broken in the 38th minute when Yatai goalkeeper Liu Weiguo made a mistake in receiving a return pass and the ball slowly rolled into his own goal, allowing Taishan to score unexpectedly with the pressure from the front. Immediately after, shortly after the start of the second half, the consistently solid foreign defender Okere also made a mistake and gave away a gift, Jin Jingdao broke the ball in the penalty area and easily broke the goal. Two minutes later, Moises passed the ball to the goal, Liu Guowei catching the ball when the hand shape control is not appropriate, resulting in a mistake, see the ball into the net. All three of Yatai's mistakes were of their own making, and then Liu Guowei was replaced.
With a three-goal lead, Taishan didn't let up and continued to put pressure on Yatai, which is what Taishan did well in this game. Whether it was a long attack or a gift from the opponent's mistake, or a big lead, the team's offense and defense were well organized. Then, Moises shot a shot from the front of the field and pierced the opponent's goal again, and Taishan won 4:0.
Compared to the luck of their opponents in terms of mistakes and gifts, Taishan have significantly improved the content and quality of their game compared to the previous three matches. Firstly, Yatai's deep retreat seemed to put little pressure on Taishan's defense, but Eric's counter-attacks, as well as Junior's and Tan Long's tackling in front of the goal, had dealt a fatal blow to many Chinese Super League teams. However, Liu Binbin's speed was no less than Eric's, and his all-out running made Eric uncomfortable. Jin Jingdao and Moises quickly threw themselves into the defense after the attack, and even a key retreat by Chen Pu spoiled the opponent's chance to shoot from close range. The midfield's support to the backline made Yatai's counter-attacks much less threatening in terms of passing accuracy and shooting percentage.
In the offensive end, Chen Pu and Liu Binbin in the two sides of the road performance is getting better and better, especially Liu Binbin, while maintaining the speed, passes have become diverse, there are high balls and low balls, so that the opposing defenders are difficult to deal with. Yatai's retreat although effective control of the penalty area and the surrounding area, but the second point of release is often grabbed by the Taishan team for a second attack. Sun Junho and Moises have been getting better and better in this area, with the former getting a number of chances to shoot from distance but hitting high, and the latter finally breaking his goal drought with a cross and a great shot from the middle of the field, which has done wonders for their self-confidence and form.
Without the involvement of a center forward, Taishan finally scored and won big. To Taishan's slight regret, Cressan has yet to find his form, and his problem-solving ability has yet to be fully utilized, despite the improved cooperation with his teammates. Fellaini, Zhang Qi and Ji Xiang were obviously warming up and recovering, which is a positive sign for Taishan. Originally thought to be a tough game, Taishan not only won easily, but more importantly, the whole team showed a positive upward trend, and the haze of the Henan battle was swept away. Dai Lin's injury is the only bad news, but Shi Ke will return after his suspension to make up for the shortage of center backs. Taishan is moving in a better direction. (cm)
