FC Shandong hosted Kawasaki Frontale in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash, and despite FC Shandong managing to equalize in the second half, they were defeated 2-3. It was an entertaining match and Kawasaki Frontale did enough to make them proud.
As predicted before the match, Marciano is a nightmare for Kawasaki Strikers. His amazing speed made defenders walk on thin ice, and his breaks on the left became a weapon for the team's offense, and he also scored a header in the first round. Allison, making his debut for the team, also showed great strength, scoring a penalty kick, and seems to be on track to become the centerpiece of the team's frontcourt this season.
In the midfield, Kawasaki Strikers have many strong players such as Taito Wakizubo, Yuki Yamamoto and Akihiro Nagano, who are able to control the ball firmly and create chances for the strikers. I firmly believe that the possibility of Kawasaki Strikers winning in the second leg is quite high.
However, FC Shantou are not without a chance to win on the road in Japan. They created a lot of trouble in the second half of the first leg and had a chance to get a draw.
Kawasaki Striker's defense is slightly loose and reacts flatly to cross-ball attacks from the opponent's penalty area. Therefore, I think FC Shandong should adopt a tougher defensive strategy in this match, attacking the opponent's weaknesses through midfield interceptions and quick passes to the sides.
The most threatening attacking opportunity could come from a cross against goal scorer Kilisin. In addition, if Kashashuvili is able to get more playing time, he will also put a lot of pressure on Kawasaki Striker's defense.
