The Chinese Super League (CSL) powerhouses are engaged in a fierce battle in the AFC Champions League, with one of the teams already out of the title. In the sixth round of the group stage last night, Wuhan Three Town battled to a 1-1 draw with Pohang Ironman at home and regretted to bid farewell to the AFC Champions League stage. Even though victory was in sight, the team lost out on promotion due to a draw. The so-called regret is that the team was unable to give the fans a victory in the farewell game. As a newcomer to the AFC Champions League, Sanzhen has tried their best to fight for six matches. After the game, goalkeeper Liu Dengzheng admitted that it was a regrettable ending to fail to win the last game. "We will fight again next year. Thank you for the support of the fans. This year is really not easy."
Looking ahead to next year, what does the future hold for Tri-Town? Fans have no choice but to send their best wishes. May every professional team seize the last chance and succeed in advancing. Shandong Taishan and Zhejiang finished the last round of the AFC Champions League group stage. Zhejiang still has a chance to get out of the group, while Shandong Taishan, ranked first in Group G, has the best hope to advance. In the final round away to Japan's Yokohama Mariners, it is only a matter of first or second place in the group as long as Taishan avoids mistakes and advances.
Yokohama Mariners are not the Pohang Ironmen and are quite tricky to deal with! The Pohang Ironmen, who advanced early last night, missed two open goals, which left fans with their jaws on the floor! If you put it in the Chinese Super League, I'm afraid it would have drowned the mouths of Chinese fans. After the match, fans were buzzing: "Pohang Ironman's performance was terrible!" "At the last minute, Liu Dianzai attacked the midfield. Did Pohang buy a draw?" "Give Sanjin an oval goal. It's disgusting, not shooting at an open goal and choosing to pass it instead."
Not all teams can perform like this, and not all Chinese Super League teams were fortunate enough to have the "misfortune" of the Korean team yesterday! Yokohama Marinos beat Shandong Taishan 1-0. They are currently third in their group and are in a tough position to qualify for the qualifying rounds. They will have to go all out when they return home. Taishan is missing two foreigners, Moises and Fellaini, and Pato has returned to Brazil early. They will need to develop targeted tactics, focusing on defensive counter-attacks and the three domestic midfielders!
Unsurprisingly, Choi Kang-hee adopted a three center back tactic for at least the first half, with Lee Won-yi, Hwang Jung-woo, and Liao Li-Sang starting in the midfield, as the opponents strung out, physically fighting and shrinking the space. Considering the foot skills and localized cooperation of Yokohama players, they can't carry out high robbery, and if the robbery fails, they will be caught by the opponent. Tighten up the defensive formation with the barrel formation, and then look for the opportunity to make a high-quality counterattack, so that it is possible to steal one, and the opponent can not be without flaws.
Taishan's right side is also a hidden problem besides the lack of centers and strikers. Does Li Hailong start? If not, I'm afraid we'll have to play Jixiang or Relax, both of whom are full of match pressure. Liu Binbin's performance is crucial! If the breakthrough is not difficult, Xie Wen can be more reliable, Liu Binbin plays right back for the national team, and if Lao Cui plays three center backs, Liu Binbin also plays right back? If Jixiang can keep up with the physical health, long passes can still help the team.
Yokohama refuses to be "doubled" in the away game! The enemy is strong and we are weak, but the pressure is on the enemy. Representing the Chinese Super League, Taishan must advance!
