At Guangzhou Huadu Stadium this afternoon, if it were not for Zhang Linpeng's powerful penalty deflected out of the goal, the Harbor team would not only suffer the embarrassment of penalty draws in two consecutive games, but also would not be able to qualify for the second place in the Chinese Super League this season.
This is the final round of the 2021 Chinese Super League Championship Group, and the harbor team, which ranked third before the game, is 2 points behind the second place Guangzhou team, and as long as it can defeat the opponent, it will win the league runner-up. Because of this, despite the FA Cup final this Sunday, Harbor coach Lecco has managed to line up the strongest starting line-up as possible.
Hu Jinghang, who contributed a goal and an assist on the bench in the last round, was put into the main squad to strengthen the team's front line; Oscar and Mui all started. The only thing Leco had to adjust was the injury-ridden backline, with only He Xi and Yu Hai health, the original main right wing-back Li Shenyuan played right center-back, and Zhang Huachen made a cameo appearance as the right wing-back of the game.
Such a makeshift patchwork of defence became the focus of Guangzhou's attack, and they twice won a one-handed ball through anti-offside tactics in the first half because Harbour's new combination of three centre-backs lacked enough tacit understanding. Fortunately, the players of the Guangzhou team could not grasp it, otherwise the Harbor team would have fallen behind in the score early.
Despite the high level of foreign players such as Oscar and Mooy in midfield, in the current tactical play of head coach Lecco, most of the players who ultimately have to complete the task of scoring are still forward players, especially after opponents are familiar with the harbor wingbacks' back-point wrapping routine.
Liu Zhurun, Hu Jinghang and Li Shenglong, although the three forwards in the Harbor team today have their own characteristics, objectively speaking, they have not reached the level of the main striker of the championship team. Therefore, when facing a strong team with a well-organized backline such as Guangzhou and Shandong Taishan, and a fierce and aggressive midfield interception, it is difficult to complete a fatal blow in front of the goal.
Fortunately, in the first half, young player Liu Zhurun grasped Lu Wenjun's foot directly behind the Guangzhou team's defense line. Without physical contact, he appeared in front of the opponent's goal in an instant and deftly rubbed the ball into the goal before the Guangzhou goalkeeper attacked.
Although the Harbor team took the lead, the attack was still not sharp, at least maintaining the offensive and defensive balance on the field. In the 68th minute, Liu Zhurun's injury became a turning point in the game. Because The Harbour team could not find a substitute striker who had the speed to counter-attack on the bench.
Guangzhou can confidently and boldly press the attack across the board, which has become the norm in the last 20 minutes or so. The penalty in injury time comes under the continuous attack and continuous pressure of the opponent. The same scene was the same as usual in the last round of Shandong Taishan's stoppage time penalty, unable to organize a threatening rapid counterattack, and could only be bombarded by the opponent in his own half.
Fortunately, the Chinese Super League has all come to an end this season, and Harbor can use the winter transfer window to reconfigure the front personnel. But what about the FA Cup final just around the corner?
Paulinho has returned to Shanghai for treatment for a fractured hand, and it is not known whether he will go to Chengdu to meet the team, nor does he know whether he will eventually play with protective gear.
And Liu Zhurun, a young player who had a hard time playing out of the feeling and contributed two goals in the championship group stage, went off early due to injury in this game and was directly sent to the hospital by ambulance for examination. If he also misses the FA Cup final, Harbour's forward line will be even worse.
Injuries have undoubtedly become the biggest enemy of the Harbor team in the 2021 season, and they have not won the Chinese Super League championship, facing the well-organized Shandong Taishan, the road to the FA Cup will certainly be difficult.