In the Shenhua and Qingdao Hainiu match, last night's game has undoubtedly become the most worrying battle of the season for Shenhua. Despite the home advantage, the absence of core foreign aiders Teixeira and Amadou made the team's midfield operate poorly, exposing hidden problems in both offense and defense. On the front line, Malelai and Luis looked isolated most of the time. However, at this critical moment, a young player stepped forward and opened the door to victory for Shenhua - the fan-favorite "team grass" Jiang Shenglong.
Jiang Shenglong has won the hearts of Shenhua fans, especially female fans, with his tall stature and handsome appearance, coupled with his maturity and stability on the pitch. Whenever he plays at home, fans wearing No. 4 jerseys can always be seen in the stands of Shanghai Stadium cheering for Jiang. Jiang Shenglong is also well aware of this passion, and he has repeatedly said that he wants to repay the fans' trust with better performance and more trophies. Last night, he honored his promise.
Facing Qingdao Hainiu's "iron bucket formation", Shenhua's offense was once blocked. In the first half, the team collectively "lost speed", and in the second half, although the accelerated attack, the players were too impatient and lack of calm. Amadou's absence allowed the opponent to find an opportunity. In the 74th minute, Bao Yaxiong's misplaced pass almost put Shenhua behind, Jiang Shenglong stepped up with a key clearance to help the team turn the tide. The defense not only solidified the back line, but also earned Shenhua a valuable draw.
The surprise didn't stop there. In the 88th minute, Jiang Shenglong seized the opponent's goalkeeper's mistake and shot smartly at the back point to break the deadlock, which was also the 1,500th official goal in Shenhua's history. After the goal, Jiang Shenglong slipped and fell on the pitch, releasing his inner pressure and showing his joy to his family in the stands with his hands. He is the hard man of Shenhua's defense and a good husband of his family.
After the game, Jiang Shenglong said, "As defenders, we are playing at home and we won't let others take away points or let the other team score easily." He also encouraged his teammates that although mistakes are inevitable in the defense, the other players on the field will make up for it. As for the 1,500th goal in team history, Chiang humbly said, "I'm honored to score for the team. I hope that in every future game, everyone will work together towards the goal."
Jiang Shenglong's growth at Shenhua has been evident to all, as he has not only won the AFC Cup and Super Cup, but has also helped the team at crucial moments, both as a defender and as a guest striker. Now, he is in the prime of his career and is eager to win higher honors for Shenhua. If the time is right and the opportunity is right in the future, he is looking forward to showing his talent on a wider stage.
