The 36-year-old international player continued to break out, hitting 2 goals in 4 games, and he was much better than Exxon
On April 5, Beijing time, in a match in the fourth round of the Chinese Super League, Changchun Yatai lost 1-2 at home to Shanghai Shenhua. In this game, Changchun Yatai captain Tan Long scored a goal, which was also Tan Long's second league goal this season. As an "old" international player, Tan Long proved with his actual performance that he still has the strength to win a place in the national football team, I wonder if the national football coach Ivankovic, who once ignored him, will regret it?
Shanghai Shenhua is the team with the best start record in the Chinese Super League this season, while Changchun Yatai has 1 win and 2 losses before this game, and its form can only be said to be mediocre. As the captain of Yatai, Tan Long used a header in the box to equalize for Yatai in the first half when the team was down 0-1. In addition, before the end of regular time in the game, Tan Long had another scoring opportunity to directly face Bao Yaxiong in the penalty area, but unfortunately he did not take it.
Throughout the game, Tan Long was undoubtedly one of the most threatening players on Yatai's forward line. Two shots on target from four shots and one goal, two goals in four appearances so far this season, an efficiency that is quite impressive for a 36-year-old striker. Although he has reached the later years of his career, Tan Long's physical condition has not declined at all, and even in recent seasons, he has become one of the permanent players of the national team.
However, during the group stage of the World Preliminary Tournament just past, Tan Long was very unexpectedly unselected for the Chinese men's football team. The new coach of the national football team, Ivankovic, does not seem to be very interested in Tan Long, and would rather choose Ackerson, who has not had many opportunities to appear in Chengdu this season and is in extremely poor physical condition, rather than give Tan Long a chance. As a result, Ackerson's performance in the World Preliminary Tournament was a mess, which also made the outside world question Ivankovic's original choice. Now, Tan Long continues to "slap the face" of the national football team with goals, hoping that the next time he chooses people, Ivankovic will not make the same mistake again.