In the first 15 minutes of the game, despite his mistake, Zhang Linpeng quickly adjusted his mindset and showed a series of key blocks in the following game. In particular, in the 24th minute, he bravely shanked a ball and managed to defuse a crisis. Although opposing players have accused Zhang of committing fouls, the meticulous replay by VAR showed that Zhang's defensive actions were precise and without foul play. ! [Zhang Linpeng's defensive moment](https://www.ballti.com/UploadFiles/Sinaimg/202203/2022032504191300337501684.gif) Into the 35th minute, Dosari forced a breakthrough in the left side of the box and attempted a cross, which Zhang Linpeng quickly chased back to keep the ball out of the bottom line. Under the positive drive of Zhang Linpeng, the overall performance of the national soccer backline was fair. However, in the defense of the corner kick before the end of the first half, the national football team failed to guard the opponent's front point, resulting in the loss of the ball, and failed to achieve a half-time shutout.
Another mistake in the second half, is Zhang Linpeng really fit at center back?
The goal conceded before the end of the first half made head coach Li Xiaopeng inevitably emphasize on strengthening the attack in the second half during the halftime break, and such tactical adjustments undoubtedly increased the pressure on the backline. In the second half, Zhang Linpeng tried to clear the ball with his big foot in a head-on collision with Dosari, but Dosari was quicker on his feet and managed to get rid of Zhang Linpeng. If not for Dosari's poor shooting skills, his unmarked shot from in front of the penalty area was almost certain to go in. Although the national football team did not concede again in the second half, we could clearly see the huge pressure on the back line in the whole second half of the game. In the end, the national football team finished the tie without conceding a goal, thanks to the lack of ability of Saudi Arabia's attacking players to grasp the opportunity. Throughout the game, Zhang Linpeng, who was back in the center back role, made a number of key blocks and deserved his captain's armband. However, he also made two near-fatal errors. Combined with Zhang's performance and skill set over the years, he may not be well suited to play as a center back.
