In an electrifying match on Thursday, Zhejiang FC of the Chinese Super League pulled off a remarkable 4-2 comeback victory against Lion City Sailors from the Singapore Premier League in the AFC Champions League Group F clash in Hangzhou, China.
The game began with both teams showcasing attacking intent. Zhejiang nearly opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Jean Kouassi’s misdirected shot found Gao Di unmarked in the box. Gao’s powerful strike, however, rattled the crossbar, leaving the home fans yearning for more.
Just before halftime, Lion City capitalized on Zhejiang’s missed opportunities. Toni Datkovic connected with a free-kick pass, steering the ball into the net to give his team a 1-0 lead. The visitors extended their advantage in the 62nd minute when Song Ui-Young unleashed a stunning long-range shot into the top right corner, making it 2-0.
Undeterred, Zhejiang mounted an impressive comeback. Three minutes after conceding the second goal, Franko Andrijasevic converted a penalty to reduce the deficit. Moments later, in the 69th minute, Sun Zhenghao leveled the score with a close-range header, igniting the crowd and shifting the momentum.
The hosts continued to press, and in the 86th minute, Wang Yudong’s clever pass found Kouassi in the area. This time, Kouassi made no mistake, slotting the ball home to put Zhejiang ahead 3-2. Deep into stoppage time, Wang secured the victory with a composed finish into the bottom left corner after a precise through ball from Li Tixiang.
With this win, Zhejiang climbed to third place in Group F with six points from two wins and three losses. They trail Lion City and Port FC from Thai League 1, with one game remaining. The top two teams in the group will advance to the knockout stage, keeping Zhejiang’s hopes alive.
Reference(s):
Zhejiang recover to beat Lion City in AFC Champions League Two
cgtn.com
