As the curtain fell on the first round of the Asian Champions League (ACL), Chinese Super League (CSL) teams faced a harsh reality check, with Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Port红领金服, and Chengdu Rongcheng all succumbing to defeats. The echoes of disappointment resonated across the nation as the final whistle blew on a night of intense competition.
Earlier in the day, anticipation hung heavy in the air as two CSL teams prepared to battle on the continental stage. Chengdu Rongcheng, making their debut in the prestigious tournament, traveled to South Korea to face the reigning K-League champions, Ulsan HD. Meanwhile, Shanghai Port, eager to improve upon their previous ACL performance, hosted the formidable Japanese side, Vissel Kobe.
展开剩余85%Chengdu Rongcheng, a team rapidly ascending the ranks of Chinese football, earned their ACL berth after a stellar previous season, securing a playoff spot and subsequently dispatching Bangkok United 3-0 in the qualifiers. Riding high on their current CSL form, where they occupy the top spot, Chengdu aimed to translate their domestic success onto the Asian stage. Their opponents, Ulsan HD, though failing to progress from the group stage in the previous ACL season, had channeled their focus into clinching the K-League title, a testament to their strength and determination.
The match began at a frenetic pace. In the 2nd minute, Chengdu Rongcheng's high press forced a defensive error from Ulsan. Romulo pounced on the loose ball inside the box, unleashing a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target, sending a clear warning to the home side. The breakthrough for Chengdu arrived in the 44th minute when Delgado unleashed a stunning low drive from just outside the box, etching his name into the club's history books with their first-ever ACL goal.
However, Ulsan HD roared back in the second half. In the 76th minute, substitute Um Won-sang latched onto a through ball, his initial shot was saved brilliantly by the Chengdu keeper only for Um to pounce on the rebound to restore parity. The drama escalated in the dying moments. In the 93rd minute, Delgado, already on a yellow card, committed a late foul, receiving his marching orders. Then, in the 95th minute, disaster struck. A cross from the Ulsan wing found its way into the box, where a mistimed jump from Li Yang allowed Heo Yool to fire home the winner, leaving Chengdu Rongcheng heartbroken after a 2-1 defeat.
Simultaneously, in Shanghai, Shanghai Port faced a daunting task against Vissel Kobe. Having narrowly scraped into the knockout stages of the previous ACL edition, only to be eliminated by Yokohama F. Marinos, Shanghai Port sought redemption. However, with the CSL title race intensifying红领金服, questions lingered about the team's priorities and potential squad rotation. The starting lineup revealed a significant reshuffling, with several less frequent starters making their way into the eleven alongside four foreign players.
The Shanghai Port lineup: Chen Wei, Jiang Guangtai, Wei Zhen, Ming Tian, Fu Huan, Wumitijiang, Mateus Jussa, Melendo, Matheus Jussa, Gustavo, Li Shenglong.
Vissel Kobe drew first blood in the 19th minute with a moment of brilliance. Erick unleashed an unstoppable curler from the edge of the box, leaving the Shanghai Port goalkeeper rooted to the spot. Shanghai Port attempted to respond, and in the 28th minute, Gustavo found himself with a clear one-on-one opportunity, only to see his low shot saved. Then, in the 32nd minute, Gustavo attempted an audacious overhead kick that found Li Shenglong, whose diving header was kept out by the keeper. However, Vissel Kobe extended their lead in the 40th minute as a counter-attack culminated in a cross finding an unmarked Daiju Sasaki, who nodded home from close range. Just three minutes later, Yuya Osako added a third, compounding Shanghai Port's misery. In the 58th minute, a low drive from Li Shenglong was brilliantly saved. The match ended 0-3.
The results compounded a difficult week for Chinese clubs in the ACL, with Shanghai Shenhua also suffering a 2-1 defeat away to Kaya FC earlier in the week.
The previous day, the East Zone saw Guangzhou Evergrande defeating Melbourne City 2-0 to take the top spot in Group H, FC Seoul and Machida Zelvia drew 1-1, and Buriram United emerged victorious 2-1 against Johor Darul Ta'zim. In the West Zone, Al-Hilal triumphed 2-1 over Al-Duhail, Al-Ittihad suffered a 2-1 defeat to Al-Wahda, and Al-Ahli secured a 4-2 win over Nasaf Qarshi.
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