In a thrilling encounter in Hangzhou, the Chinese Super League’s Zhejiang staged a stunning comeback to defeat the Lion City Sailors of the Singapore Premier League 4-2 in the AFC Champions League Two on Thursday.
The match began with both teams showing attacking intent. Zhejiang nearly opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Jean Kouassi’s attempt inside the box found Gao Di unmarked. Gao unleashed a powerful shot, but it struck the crossbar, denying the home side an early lead.
As the first half drew to a close, Lion City seized the advantage. During stoppage time, Toni Datkovic connected with a free-kick pass, directing the ball into Zhejiang’s net and putting the visitors ahead 1-0.
Building on their momentum, Lion City extended their lead 17 minutes into the second half. Song Ui-Young launched a spectacular long-range strike that soared into the top-right corner of Zhao Bo’s goal, making it 2-0.
Undeterred, Zhejiang began their quest for a comeback just three minutes later. Franko Andrijasevic converted a penalty kick, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The goal energized the home crowd and the team alike.
In the 69th minute, Zhejiang drew level. Sun Zhenghao rose to meet a cross with a precise header from close range, bringing the score to 2-2. The swift turnaround injected confidence into the Zhejiang players.
The relentless pressure from Zhejiang paid off in the 86th minute. Wang Yudong delivered a clever pass to Kouassi in the area. This time, Kouassi capitalized on the opportunity, finding the back of the net and giving Zhejiang a 3-2 lead.
In stoppage time, Zhejiang sealed their victory. Li Tixiang’s accurate through pass set up Wang for a solo run. Wang calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, securing the 4-2 win for the home side.
With this victory, Zhejiang stands third in Group F with six points from two wins and three losses, trailing Lion City and Port of Thai League 1. With one match remaining, Zhejiang remains in contention for a spot in the knockout stage, as the top two teams from each group advance.
Reference(s):
Zhejiang recover to beat Lion City in AFC Champions League Two
cgtn.com
