On April 24, in the fourth round of the AFC Champions League group stage, Shandong Taishan once again played against Singapore's champion Lion City Sailors. In the fierce battle of 90 minutes, the Taishan team lost 2-3 to the opponent, failed to get the points again, but won two AFC Champions League goals. After the game, the elite coach Yu Yuanwei affirmed the performance of the players, and has always emphasized two words with the players, that is, bravery and courage, and the boys have also done it on the field.
The match was the second match between the two teams in 4 days, the first game Oftzan drew 0-0 with their opponents, won the first point of the AFC Champions League, and prevented the opponents from winning consecutively. In the second meeting in a short period of time, the Lion City Mariners arranged for South Korean high school striker Kim Shin-woo to start, while the Taishan team was not enough to choose from the personnel, but only fine-tuned the starting lineup, and the physical fitness of the players encountered a greater test.
Judging from the course of the game, the Taishan team's defense in the first half was still very tenacious, and Cao Zheng repeatedly saved the opponent's threat to hit the goal, especially the goal of blocking Jin Xinyu in front of the goal was very exciting. Somewhat regrettably, in the half-time stoppage time, the Lion City Mariners crossed from the side, and Song Yiyong broke the goal with a header that was unguarded in the penalty area, and The Taishan team fell behind 0-1. For this goal conceded, after the game, Taishan coach Yu Yuanwei also said that it was a pity, which was the embodiment of the team's lack of experience. At halftime, Yu Yuanwei did not blame the players, but gave the players more encouragement, let them cherish the opportunity to play, and believe that they can do better.
In the second half, Yu Yuanwei made consecutive substitutions to strengthen the attack, but the Lion City Mariners extended their lead in the 60th minute, and The Tarzan team's set-piece defense had problems, and Enrique's header broke the goal. Faced with a 0-2 trail, the Tarzan lads let go of their hands and feet, and they used running on the field to interfere with their opponents, and they received results. In the 76th minute, Lu Yongtao made a penalty and scored it himself, which was Taishan's first goal in this AFC Champions League, achieving a new breakthrough.
In the 83rd minute, the Lion City Mariners seized the opportunity to score another goal on the counter-attack, and the Tarzan players still did not give up. In the 90th minute, the Taishan team played a counterattack, Liu Fanyi passed the ball to Liu Guobao in the penalty area, Liu Guobao got rid of the opponent's defense and shot with his left foot to score the first sports goal for the Taishan team, chasing the score to 2-3. Although the Taishan team still lost in the end, the two goals of this game satisfied the fans, and Yu Yuanwei was also satisfied with the team's hard work and performance.
For the progress of the players in 4 games, Yu Yuanwei pointed out that the players from nervous and unconfident to slowly show their level and strength, playing better and better, this is a kind of improvement, I believe that if there are more such high-level games, young people will make greater progress. Yu Yuanwei said bluntly: "I have always emphasized two words with the players, bravery and courage, they should now appreciate the meaning of these two words, I hope that they will make fewer mistakes in future games, so that the technical and tactical play will be better." ”
For the young Taishan players, the four AFC Champions League games is a gradual learning process, and they will still face greater tests in the future, and they are expected to be more confident to cope. According to the schedule, on the 27th and 30th, the Taishan team will also play against Daegu and Urawa Red Diamonds, and the Taishan team lost by a big score in the first leg, looking forward to the second leg of the showdown, the Taishan team can have a greater improvement.