With the 2023/24 AFC Champions League group stage in full swing, Shandong Taishan were on the road to face South Korea's Incheon United of the K-League on the evening of October 25th, with an exciting showdown on the horizon. After a 90-minute match, Taishan won 2-0 and became the leader of the group table. Meanwhile, Zhejiang beat Kofu Fung Lam at home by the same score, and Wuhan Sanzhen beat Hanoi of Vietnam by 2-1. All three Chinese Super League teams performed well in this round of AFC Champions League group matches, bringing a visual feast to the fans.
Looking back at the first round of the AFC Champions League group stage of the 2017 season, Chinese Super League teams had won all their matches in one game. Shanghai SIPG 1-0 away to Seoul FC, Jiangsu Suning 1-0 away to Jeju United, and Guangzhou Evergrande 7-0 at home to Oriental Dragons. Now Shandong Taishan are challenging Korean giants Incheon United away from home, and they have once again written a brilliant story with a convincing victory.
Although Shandong Taishan suffered from injuries to three foreign players in their last Chinese Super League match, they still put up a brave fight against a strong opponent on the road. In the opening ten minutes, Taishan quickly took control of the game with their excellent footwork and smooth passing maneuvers. In the second half, Cressan and Liu Binbin came on as substitutes, and Choi Kang-hee's tactical adjustments paid off. Cressan's goals in the 55th and 87th minutes helped Taishan lock up a 2-0 win.
Despite having slightly less than 45% possession, Taesan had 15 shots on goal, four more than their opponents. It was a satisfying match in terms of both process and result, and Taishan became the first away win over a South Korean team in the history of the AFC Champions League. After this game, they moved to the top of the table on goal difference, and their prospects for qualification are bright.
Zhejiang showed great strength against Japanese Emperor's Cup champions Kofu Fung Lam. Lucas and Mu Xiekui scored one goal each and goalkeeper Zhao Bo made some heroic saves as Zhejiang won 2-0. Wuhan Three Town injected a shot in the arm for Chinese soccer as all three teams blossomed against the backdrop of their first AFC Champions League win.
However, traditional Thai Premier League rivals Pathom United suffered their third consecutive defeat in this round with a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Kawasaki Frontale. Meanwhile, Shanghai Seaport managed to hold off Baton Rouge in the AFC Champions League play-offs with a 3-2 away win. Although Shanghai Seaport was once 15 points ahead in the league, their three consecutive defeats are certainly worrying for their fans. In the next round, Shanghai Seaport will face Shandong Taishan at home, hoping that Taishan can seize the opportunity to win the championship against all odds.
