Original title: The FA Cup staged a big upset
Tianjin Daily News (Reporter Shen Wei) Yesterday, the Chinese Football Association Cup played two semi-finals in Suzhou. If it is reasonable for Shandong Taishan team to beat Shanghai Shenhua team 2:0, then Zhejiang team beat Shanghai Haigang team 5:3 in the penalty shootout, which is definitely not a small upset.
Judging from the starting lineup, although the number of foreign aid sent by the Zhejiang team is dominant, the outside world seems to be more optimistic about the Shanghai Seaport team in this semi-final. Wu Lei said in an interview before the game that after losing hope of the Chinese Super League championship, the team has set its sights on the FA Cup championship. For this reason, the Shanghai Seaport team also specially recalled the big-name star Oscar, hoping to use his skills and experience to help the team win the championship.
Judging from the overall data, the performance of the two teams is evenly matched. Since the offensive end is very threatening, the two teams focused on the defensive level, leaving few opportunities for the opponent. During stoppage time, Lu Wenjun’s header hit the opponent’s crossbar and popped out, and the two teams entered a penalty shootout. For Lu Wenjun, the nightmare was not over yet. His penalty kick hit the crossbar again, and the Shanghai Seaport team finally lost the game 3:5.
The victory of the Zhejiang team in this semi-final is by no means an accident, because in the two matches in the Super League in the 2022 season, they maintained a record of 1 win and 1 draw against the Shanghai Seaport team. The Zhejiang team was able to win, thanks to their head coach Jody. Compared with Xi Zhikang, the acting head coach of the Shanghai Seaport Team, Jody is superior in terms of team formation and overall tactical adjustment.
There is no doubt that the Zhejiang team, which has not made large-scale signings, performed very well in the 2022 season. It ranked third in the league and reached the final of the FA Cup. Jody’s transformation of the team has been very successful, and his overall technical and tactical style is very consistent with the club’s stable philosophy, which is why he is so popular. In contrast, the Shanghai Seaport team, which invested a lot, ended in two defeats. Fortunately, the team won the AFC Champions League next season, which is a blessing in misfortune.
In another semi-final, the Shandong Taishan team defeated the Shanghai Shenhua team 2-0 with the goals of Song Long and Moises, and advanced to the FA Cup final for 5 consecutive years. However, the number one star Kreisan was sent off for pushing the opposing player, and he will not be able to participate in the final.