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At 15:30 Beijing time on January 8, a match in the first leg of the Chinese Super League promotion and relegation play-off was contested, with Qingdao against Zhejiang. Qingdao's record in the Relegation Group of the Chinese Super League was very poor, winning only 3 of the 22 games and losing 17 games, locking up another promotion and relegation play-off place early. The Zhejiang team won the 3rd place in the Central League, only 1 point less than the 2nd Meizhou Hakka, and had to play in the promotion and relegation play-offs. This time, Qingdao lost 0-1 and fell into trouble. The Qingdao team has no way to retreat, and the next life-and-death battle has to do its best to fight. The Zhejiang team has already taken the lead, and the second leg of the game can be played more calmly.
The Qingdao team lined up in a 352 formation. Lee Chi-chiu serves as the starting goalkeeper. Wang Wei, Liu Jiashen and Zou Zheng partnered at 3 defenders. Wang Hao, Ruan Zhexiang, Badu, Liu Jian and Lü Peng formed a five-back. Zhu Ting and Zhou Junchen played as a double forward. The Shenzhen team is in a 442 formation, with Matthews and Gaudí at the top.
Shortly after the game began, Gaudí's header from inside the penalty area flicked his head into the goal, and the top was high, and the ball fell on the top net. The game was quite dull at one point, and neither side created any decent chances. In the 23rd minute, Matthews cut inside the edge of the penalty area and deflected it. In the 29th minute, Zhejiang scored! Andryashevic scored with a clever shot in front of goal. In the 42nd minute, Matthews' shot from the middle of the penalty area was blocked and the ball was then released from the bottom line. At the end of the half, Qingdao team trailed 0-1. Qingdao had 43% of the ball in the first half and did not shoot correctly in 2 shots. The Zhejiang team scored 4 shots on goal in the first half, 2 shots on target, and scored 1 goal.
In the second half, The Zhejiang team continued to create threats, but the shots were either blocked or kicked high. In the 51st minute, Matthews cut inside from the edge and the ball went just over the crossbar. Four minutes later, Qingdao won a direct free kick opportunity at the front of the penalty area, Zhou Junchen took the penalty, and he directly kicked away. In the 60th minute, Gu Bin tried a long-range shot at the front of the penalty area, slightly off the left upright.
In the 70th minute, Wang Hao was suspected of being saved by the goalkeeper in the penalty area, but after VAR confirmation, no penalty was awarded. In the 81st minute, Zhejiang won a free kick opportunity in front of the field, Gu Bin took the penalty, he shot directly, hit the near corner, and the goalkeeper saved the ball. In the end, Qingdao lost 0-1 to Zhejiang. Judging from the course of the game, the Zhejiang team is fully worthy of this victory.