February 20, Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League round of sixteen in the second round of the fierce battle to 4-2 force over Kawasaki Striker, the total score of 6-5 successfully broke into the eight. After the match, many domestic media have been hotly debated.
Former international player and commentator Li Yi exclaimed, "I would like to thank Shandong Taishan for sending a ray of warm sunshine to Chinese soccer in the bitter winter! I have always believed that Shandong Taishan will build a 100-year club, not only focusing on the domestic league, but also representing China in the international arena. Today, you have done it, and we look forward to another good performance in the next game! Go Taishan!"
Media personality Li Xuan said, "Before the match, expectations were not high, especially seeing Kawasaki Frontale win the Super Cup with a substitute lineup. The game had its ups and downs, with the Taishan players sticking to their guns until the last minute. The new foreigners have yet to fully integrate, but Kressan and Jadson were impressive, and the domestic players showed what they are capable of. The game was climactic and exhilarating. At that moment, I couldn't help but scream and cheer, and even shed tears of excitement. How long has it been since Chinese soccer had such an exciting game?"
According to journalist Ma Dexing, "Shandong Taishan's victory injected a shot in the arm for Chinese soccer in the Year of the Dragon, boosting the morale of the entire Chinese soccer. The poor performance in the Asian Cup put Chinese soccer in the doldrums, but this victory gives Chinese soccer hope again."
Reporter Zhao Yu teased, "Some fans expect Shandong Taishan to meet Riyadh Victory in the AFC Champions League in order to witness Crowe live. I know it's just a joke. Looking at the rules of the AFC Champions League, East Asian teams have to wait until the final to meet each other. While it's not completely impossible in theory, it would naturally be a good thing if it does happen. What we see is the real Riyadh victory and Cairo. The AFC Champions League final is very different from a commercial match.
Media personality Ji Yuyang analyzed: "Shandong Taishan scored four goals, Kressan's long-distance shot from the penalty area demonstrated his individual ability, and Jadason's final strike was a godsend. I'd like to say a few more words about Taishan's second goal. Does that feel familiar to you? An opponent's corner turning into a goal for us?Belgium also scored a goal against Japan in the 2018 World Cup in Russia from a counter-attack after a corner. Even though Taishan's away possession was once as low as 23% with a 34% crowd share, this strategy might just be Taishan's proactive choice. Sometimes, strong teams take some chances on their own initiative.
Reporter Chen Hua pointed out, "Shandong Taishan's performance is indeed inspiring. However, after all, this is the AFC Champions League, it is the club, it is the foreign aid. With foreign aid, the Chinese team can also fight in East Asia. Without foreign aid, look at the performance of the national football team in the Asian Cup, we will know where the level is. Especially in the 2024-2025 season, the number of foreign aid restrictions in the AFC Champions League is fully liberalized. To be honest, as long as the money, the introduction of 11 excellent foreign aid, Chinese super clubs to copy Evergrande to win the championship is not impossible. The problem is that Chinese soccer now lacks funds and local players are unwilling to accept the role of foreign aid.
Commentator Huang Jianxiang congratulated, "Congratulations to Shandong Taishan! The AFC Champions League knockout match was 6-5 on aggregate and 4-2 against the odds on the road, defeating Japan's Kawasaki Strikers and successfully advancing to the next round! It was a heated game! This victory shows us that our players are no worse than the national teams in the Asian Cup! Chinese soccer doesn't need to be arrogant or arrogant.
Media personality Zhao Zhen commented, "Taishan's reversal was exhilarating! It proves the mutual achievement between the coach and the team, and Shandong is indeed Old Cui's ideal team."
Journalist Zhang Qiang said, "This is a victory for a team with both depth and strength! This is not a victory for Chinese soccer, not even for the Chinese Super League. Maybe Chinese soccer also needs this kind of killing, but does this kind of victory make those who shoulder the heavy responsibility of Chinese soccer more courageous and responsible?"
