The fiery situation of the AFC Champions League knockout round was ignited again during the Spring Festival holiday, and our Shandong Taishan team is facing a lot of challenges. In the first leg of the game, the performance of the Taishan team did exceed our expectations, conceding two goals in a short period of time in the first half, and finally lost with a score of 2-3, which made all the fans who supported Taishan feel very uncomfortable. But football matches are like this, always full of variables and hopes, especially under the new restructuring of the AFC Champions League knockout round, the Taishan team seems to see a glimmer of life.
The restructured rules make many fans feel a bit complicated, but they are actually quite simple. Think of the two-legged match as two separate matches and compare which team has the most points. If the number of points is tied, the winner will be decided by extra time or a penalty shootout. Therefore, despite falling behind in the first leg, as long as the Taishan team wins 1-0 away from home, the points of both sides will be equal at three points, and the subsequent game can go to extra time, which is a big opportunity for Taishan.
This means that the Tarzans' path to qualification is clear – they only need to win the second leg in the 90 minutes and then add another goal in extra time. From the other party's point of view, they only need to get one point to advance, but this is an opportunity for Taishan, who has no way out. Chinese football has always been bound by the rule of winning in a draw, and now the absence of this rule may allow us to see unexpected results.
As the only representative of the Chinese Super League, the Taishan team shoulders the hopes and expectations of countless fans. If the reversal can be achieved in the second leg, it will undoubtedly greatly boost the morale of Chinese football. The poor performance of the Chinese Super League teams in the AFC Champions League in recent seasons has affected the image and qualification of the league, and if the Taishan team can break through the encirclement and advance to the quarterfinals, it is not only an affirmation of the team, but also a great boost of confidence in Chinese football.
We all know that the charm of a football game lies in its unavoidability and drama. In this context, Shandong Taishan team is facing huge challenges, but at the same time, it also has the possibility of turning defeat into victory. As fans, we want to see the team show the fighting spirit and ability it deserves, and no matter what the final result is, we hope that the Taishan team can leave a story worth remembering. Every minute on the football field is full of possibilities, let us look forward to the Taishan team in the next game, can bring us more surprises and pride.