Despite the fact that the Chinese Super League (CSL) season has entered a rest period, some teams have not stopped and vowed to go straight to the AFC Champions League. In the first round of the competition, the three Super League to 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss record to deliver the answer, however, the strength of the opponent is not enough to fully test its color. Into the second round, Taishan, three towns, Zhejiang were encountered Yokohama Mariners, Melbourne City, Pohang Steelers, are opponents in the strong enemy, if you can win, the group out of the line will greatly enhance the opportunity.
In the second round, Taishan made their debut. Returning home to face the challenge of Yokohama Marinos, Taishan was in the spotlight as the lone winner of the first round. However, Taishan failed to capitalize on their chances and Yokohama Mariners took the three points 1-0 away from home. They were followed by Wuhan Sanzhen, who, despite only earning a point in the first round, were inspired by their home turf and were able to keep Urawa Red Diamonds at bay for a while, although they were eventually held to a draw, in a respectable performance. However, they lost 1-3 on the road against Pohang Steelers, conceding a goal and playing with one man short.
The hope of victory seemed to rest on Zhejiang team. They were expected to win their first AFC Champions League match after 12 years, but Zhejiang suffered another defeat, 1-2 against Melbourne City, losing two consecutive matches and slipping to the bottom of the rankings. In the second round of the AFC Champions League, the three Chinese Super League teams suffered three consecutive defeats in two home matches, a rarity in the golden era of the Chinese Super League, even with many big-name foreign aid seaports failed to advance through the play-offs. Looking back at the first two rounds, there was only one win in six matches, highlighting the decline in the league's overall strength, and the lack of advantage even against Southeast Asian teams.
The decline in AFC Champions League results directly leads to a drop in Super League points and a continued decline in the league ranking. By that time, the number of AFC Champions League spots may be further reduced, which means that Chinese Super League clubs will have fewer and fewer chances to participate in Asia's top club tournament, which is undoubtedly a major blow to the league.
If this trend continues, the attention of the Chinese Super League will also decrease. Therefore, Taishan, Sanzhen and Zhejiang must do their best to lay a solid foundation for the fight for the AFC Champions League spot, which is not only about their own development, but also the future of the whole league.
