As the final chapter of the AFC Champions League group stage slowly comes to a close, the top three teams in the Chinese Super League are each embarking on the final round of the tournament with different expectations. Taishan can seal top spot in the group if they come out on top while Yokohama Mariners are struggling. Zhejiang, on the other hand, will need to beat Melbourne on the road to increase their goal difference. For Wuhan Sanzhen, who said goodbye to the AFC Champions League early, the clash with Pohang Ironmen is more of a battle of honor. Despite the team's impressive roster and early season hopes for an AFC Champions League performance, the league debacle and premature exit from the AFC Champions League have certainly dealt them a heavy blow.
In the final round of the competition, Wuhan Sanzhen hosted K-League rivals Pohang Ironmen. Pohang Ironmen had a strong record in the group stage, winning all their first five matches. During the match, Pohang Ironmen, who were in a better position, controlled the tempo of the game, and Wuhan Sanzhen created a lot of threats despite being in a disadvantageous position. In the 49th minute of the second half, Kang Zhipeng's cross was met by Korean player Lee Kyu-bo, giving Wuhan Sanzhen a 1-0 lead. However, in the 77th minute, Pohang Ironman Lee Ho Jae equalized the score. Towards the end of the match, the visitors had two great chances in a row, but missed them due to bizarre errors, leaving the fans with a sigh of relief. In the end, the two teams 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 missed out on qualification after finishing second in the group with seven points. Hanoi FC and Wuhan Sanzhen finished with six and five points respectively, with Wuhan Sanzhen even ranking behind Vietnam as the worst team in the group. It has to be said that Wuhan Sanzhen, the defending Chinese Super League champions, ended their AFC Champions League trip in a hasty manner with a disappointing result. The team's poor performance was mainly attributed to the absence of Malcolm and the departure of Stancho, resulting in a significant drop in strength.
Another reason for the loss in the AFC Champions League is the team's lack of experience. Although there are many ex-Guangzhou players in the team who have played in the AFC Champions League, the team as a whole is young and the head coach is equally inexperienced. This AFC Champions League trip was undoubtedly a tuition payment, as the Chinese Super League champions suffered a heavy defeat in the AFC Champions League. However, the team maintained a record in the AFC Champions League - undefeated at home. No team could beat them in Wuhan, but on the road, they suffered repeated defeats, which exposed the team's lack of experience.
Next season, Wuhan Three Town will not be in the AFC Champions League, and the team's investors have suspended their investments, but the stock reform has now made significant progress. It is reported that new shareholders have started to make contact, and the future survival of the team should no longer be an issue, but the investment may not be as strong as in the past. The end of the AFC Champions League journey means that it is still unknown when the team will play in the AFC Champions League again in the future.
