It was a challenging night for Chinese Super League giants Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League. Both teams faced tough opponents and suffered defeats that dimmed their hopes of advancing in the competition.
Shandong Taishan endured a heavy 4-0 loss against Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale. The Japanese side dominated the match, leaving Shandong struggling to keep up. Goals from Marcinho, Yuki Yamamoto, Jesiel, and Shin Yamada showcased Kawasaki’s attacking prowess.
Despite the setback, Shandong’s Xie Wenneng provided moments of promise. He crafted two clear scoring opportunities, but Kawasaki’s goalkeeper, Jung Sung-Ryong, made impressive saves to deny him. Striker Zeca also came agonizingly close when his shot hit the post, underlining the team’s misfortune.
Over in Shanghai, Shenhua faced South Korean champions Ulsan Hyundai and suffered a 2-1 defeat at home. Shenhua started strong with Andre Luis finding the net in the 23rd minute. However, Ulsan fought back in the second half, with Yago Carillo and Kang Min-Woo scoring to overturn the lead.
Shenhua’s defensive struggles in the AFC Champions League are a stark contrast to their solid performances in the domestic league. While they have been one of the stingiest teams in the CSL, conceding just 20 goals in 30 matches, they’ve allowed nine goals in six matches on the Asian stage.
With only two matches remaining in the group stage, both Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua are currently outside the top eight positions needed to advance. Shandong is in tenth place, and Shenhua is ninth. Meanwhile, Shanghai Port holds seventh place and has a better chance of moving forward.
As the competition heats up, the pressure is on for these CSL teams to rally and keep their AFC Champions League dreams alive. Fans across Asia will be watching closely to see if they can turn the tide in the upcoming fixtures.
Reference(s):
Asian struggles continue for CSL giants as qualification hopes dim
cgtn.com
