A much-anticipated World Preliminary Round Asian Zone 12 game is in full swing, the Australian team to 3:0 score of China's team. In the focus of the battle, Shanghai Harbor team's foreign aid Muy in the 68th minute substitution, although he has not participated in the systematic training and competition since three and a half months ago, but just 20 minutes to show the strength.
As Australia's highest-priced active player, Mooi will undoubtedly remain at the heart of the team's midfield and will be involved in the entirety of the Top 12 campaign. This also means that Muay, like our players in the Harbour, will not be able to return to his club until at least the end of the sixth round of the 12-team tournament on Nov. 16, inevitably missing the AFC Cup, which kicks off in mid-October.
Despite the fact that Muy will be absent, compared to the last nine matches of the first phase of the Chinese Super League, the Seaports, with the signing of Paulinho as a summer reinforcement and the return of Croatian center back Mai Storović from injury, will still be able to meet the needs of the team's foreigner numbers in the F.A.C.A. Cup tournament.
Paulinho has already made five appearances for Harbour in China, contributing two goals and two assists. With a month and a half of training before the AFC Cup, his understanding with the team will grow.
Maistorovic, the core of the Harbour's defense this season under new manager Leko, missed all the matches in the first phase of the Super League season after having to go back to Europe to undergo surgery and rehabilitation due to a serious knee injury sustained in an intra-squad match earlier in the season.
In August, the basically recovered Maestrović entered the country and began to undergo quarantine. On Monday, when the players of the Harbour team regrouped after their vacation, Maistorovic, who had completed the quarantine, appeared on the team's training ground.
Currently, the Croatian center back has not yet practiced with the full team, and he is actively engaged in recovery training under the leadership of Edu, the head of the club's medical team. It is reported that there is still about a week's time, Mai Storovic can have ball training, is expected to catch up with the AFC Cup match.
Oscar, Lopez, Paulinho and Maestrović, this may be the combination of foreigners for the Seaport team for the AFC Cup.
The F.A.C. Cup is the only domestic trophy that Shanghai Harbor Club has not won. Therefore, except for the first round, where the number of foreigners is limited because the opponents are lower-level teams (no foreigners can play against China B, and three on two against China A), it is likely that manager Leko will try to use as many as possible of the four foreigner slots in the starting lineup.
Oscar, Paulinho and Lopez will form the team's attacking trident up front. It will be up to Leko to weigh in on whether Maestrović will play as a trailing center back or play a wing halfback if he recovers well.
Wei Zhen, who replaced Mystorovic as Harbour's starting trailing center back in the first phase of the Chinese Super League, has performed well and is the only player in the team to have played every minute of all 14 matches, which shows Leko's trust in him. Without breaking the existing three center backs system, perhaps Leko will use Maistorovic, who is more capable of getting to the ball, to play right center back.
Stanley Wang switched from right wingback to right centerback in the last few rounds of the first phase of the Chinese Super League, also because Lecco valued his ability to get the ball out of the box and his consistency more. Now that Stanley Wong is playing with the national soccer team in the Round of 12 and will be absent from the AFC Cup, Maestrović can fill in the gap.
As for the Super League title race in December, all being well, Mui will be back in time and the Harbour will have their five foreigners together for the first time this season.
In previous interviews, Leko has said he is looking forward to the new midfield combination of Oscar, Paulinho and Moui, "It is very important to have these three high-level players, and I hope that when they start in the group of contenders, they can debut together and prove that our expectations are not a waste of time, and, more importantly, that they can help the team to achieve results. "
Maistorovic should also have a starting position, after all, the rivals in the championship group of Shandong Taishan, Shenzhen team have excellent header ability of the attacking players, the seaport team need this anti-aircraft ability of the foreign center back.
Thus, it seems that if Lopez fails to prove himself with more goals in the F.A.C. Cup competition, he will essentially be the Seaport's fifth foreigner in the group stage of the title race.
