Kawasaki Striker have a tight schedule of fixtures on February 17th, with a cup clash against Kobe Victory, followed by a home game against Shandong Taishan three days later. Kawasaki head coach Oniki faces an unprecedented challenge with three consecutive matches in one week. The importance of the two matches is self-evident, and it will be a great test of the team's fitness. In contrast, Shandong Taishan have a week's rest and can make full use of this time to recover, while the technical and tactical considerations of playing away from home are less critical. After a winter of "devil training", Kawasaki Vanguard's results will be put to the test on the field.
For Shandong Taishan, as long as in the next two rounds of regular time can knock the opponent's goal a goal, can be tied with the opponent to reach the target. Choi Kang-hee's ace player will finally make his debut. Bi Jinhao, who was previously absent due to injury, will be back in the second round. The newly joined Peng Xinli and Gao Junyi had a mediocre debut, but the pressure will undoubtedly be concentrated on Bi Jinhao, who cannot afford to let Choi Kang-hee's confidence suffer a blow. If the preferred players do not perform well, the pressure on Choi Kang-hee will be multiplied and may even affect his position as head coach.
In the first round of matches, Shandong Taishan unfortunately suffered from bad luck, and the backline players were slow to enter the state and lacked tacit understanding with each other. At the same time, the performance of the opponent's goalkeeper was also heroic. However, the loss in the first round of the tournament did not shatter the confidence of the players. Players who have not yet appeared in the first match, such as Bi Jinhao, Xie Wenneng, Delgado, etc., are expected to be the key players in the second round of the tournament. Choi Kang-hee has been unconventional in his away tactics, sticking to the attacking route. By paying attention to set-pieces and opponents' passes, Shandong Taishan managed to curb half of their opponents' offensive momentum and create opportunities for the offense.
