Thanks to Fernando's timely return in Luneng's fierce battle with Qilu, Manager Choi Kang-hee was able to send him to start the crucial match, which undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for Luneng. Looking back at Taishan's encounter with Shenhua, despite the team's many close calls and high shooting frequency, Bao Yaxiong's goal was impenetrable, leaving Taishan with no points.
Obviously, when the team's leading scorer Cressan was in a slump, Taishan was in dire need of a scorer who could strike a winning blow. Fernando's comeback has certainly brought a ray of hope to the team. The striker, who had a good record in the Portuguese league, has also shown a good scoring ability after moving to China's Chinese Super League. If Fernando performs as usual in the Qilu derby, then Taishan's victory over the Sea Bulls seems to be just around the corner.
