As the final chapter of the group stage of the AFC Champions League draws closer, the top three teams in the Chinese Super League each have their own agenda for the final round of the competition. Shandong Taishan can lock up top spot in the group if they ensure Yokohama Mariners fail to win. Zhejiang will need to beat Melbourne on the road to get a better goal difference. Wuhan Sanzhen, on the other hand, have said their goodbyes early, transforming their clash with Pohang Ironmen into a battle for honor. Although Wuhan Sanzhen had a good squad and were looking forward to the AFC Champions League at the beginning of the season, their "Waterloo" in the league and early exit from the AFC Champions League dealt them an unexpected blow.
In the final round of matches, Wuhan Sanzhen met the challenge of K-League powerhouse Pohang Ironmen at home. Pohang Ironmen topped the group stage, winning all five of their first five matches. However, during the match, Pohang Ironmen, with their superior strength, firmly controlled the rhythm of the game, and Wuhan Sanzhen had many good chances to score despite being passive. In the 49th minute of the second half, Kang Zhipeng's precise cross was accidentally set up by Korean player Lee Kyu-bo, giving Wuhan Sanzhen a 1-0 lead. But in the 77th minute, Pohang Ironman Lee Ho Jae equalized the score. At the end of the match, the visitors had a series of excellent chances, but lost the goal due to incredible mistakes, leaving the fans with a sigh of relief. In the end, the two sides shook hands 1-1.
After this match, Pohang Ironmen advanced with an undefeated record of 5 wins and 1 draw. Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds are in second place with seven points, but unfortunately missed out on being second best in the group. Hanoi FC and Wuhan Three Town were next with six and five points respectively, with Wuhan Three Town finishing embarrassingly at the bottom of the group behind Vietnam. Wuhan Sanzhen's first trip to the AFC Champions League ended hastily, with a performance that fell far short of expectations. The team's poor performance was largely attributed to the absence of Malcolm and the departure of Stancho, which resulted in the team's strength being reduced drastically.
The loss in the AFC Champions League trip also exposed the team's lack of experience. Although the team is full of former Guangzhou players with AFC Champions League experience, the team as a whole is young and the manager has limited experience. This AFC Champions League trip is undoubtedly a learning experience with expensive tuition. Despite the fact that the team suffered a heavy defeat in the AFC Champions League as Chinese Super League champions, the team was able to maintain its undefeated status at home. However, the away loss highlighted the team's lack of experience.
Next season, Wuhan Three Town will not be in the Asian Championship and investors have suspended their investments. However, positive progress has been made on the stock reform and new shareholders have begun to make contact, so the future survival of the team is not in doubt, but the scale of investment may not be as large as it was in the past. The end of the AFC Champions League journey has left fans looking forward to the next one, but wondering when they will be able to set off again.
