Taishan's defense has been rock-solid in their last four consecutive victories, and goalkeeper Han Rongze has written the feat of not conceding a goal in consecutive games in the AFC Cup, accumulating 450 minutes, which refreshes the record of 437 minutes held by Han Wenhai. Data show that Taishan's defense in the last five games has been exemplary, with only 9 shots on goal by the opponents and even fewer hits. Facing Henan in the semifinals, if Taishan wants to continue to maintain this record, it must be strict and wait for the opponent's offensive line, especially the implementation of effective containment of foreign strikers.
Henan is expected to adopt a defensive counter-attacking tactic in the semifinals, which is their strong point. In their quarterfinal matchup with Sichuan Jiuniu, Henan played a positional game, but it didn't work well, as they are also known for their defensive counterattacks in the league. Taishan's offense is also facing a severe test, Fellaini's play will be crucial. November 1, Taishan and Henan's pre-match press conference will be held soon, when coach Hao Wei may announce Fellaini's latest recovery.
