Shandong's trip to the AFC Champions League was a sudden storm of surprises and excitement. Their come-from-behind victory over Kawasaki Frontale in the knockout stage was a feat that made countless people turn their heads and proved that they were anything but ordinary.
Shandong, the Chinese Super League powerhouse, has emboldened their opponents with their unique free-kick tactics. Chatterson's winning strike was a testament to their counter-attacking prowess. And Kilisin, the Brazilian shot-stopper, is the weapon of their offense, scoring twice away from home and now leading the AFC Champions League scoring charts, with his ubiquitous goal scoring touch and long range shots.
Kashashuvili, an intelligent and creative player who always creates surprises in dull matches, will be a huge threat to the Yokohama Mariners if he can form an understanding with Kilisin.
The Yokohama Mariners advanced to the last eight with a sliver of luck in the last round of the tournament, and despite controlling the tempo of the game, they ultimately relied on penalties to get them over the line. They will have to improve their shooting accuracy, and despite taking a whopping 37 shots in the last match, only five were on target, which is clearly not enough. However, with a strong lineup like Andersen Lubis and Jose Elba, their offensive prowess should not be underestimated.
Midfielders Taku Kita and Ho-tae Watanabe will need to be alert as they control the tempo of the midfield and disrupt the opponents' attacks, while Nam Tae-hee's accurate passing will also be key.
Despite the fact that Yokohama Mariners had doubled up on Shandong in the group stage, Shandong is not what it used to be, and with the home fans cheering them on, I'm confident that Shandong will turn the tables in this match.
