This Time, Shanghai Port Failed to Seize the Opportunity

Facing Beijing Guoan, who were short on injured players and could only field one foreign player, Shanghai Port had a clear advantage on the pitch last night. Unfortunately, the goal never arrived. The 0-0 home draw left many fans disappointed, and Shanghai Port's winning streak was also ended.

Shanghai Port

Because defensive midfielder Da Wan received an additional six-match suspension, Kongte was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards, main striker Fabio suffered a thigh muscle injury, and Spajic and others were recovering, Guoan's starting lineup last night indeed looked somewhat depleted: they had only one foreign player, center-back Guilherme Ramos, along with naturalized player Serginho. Including the substitutes, the rest were all domestic players. Compared with Shanghai Port's full squad of five foreign players, Guoan were clearly at a disadvantage.

As a result, Shanghai Port enjoyed a clear advantage throughout the match and firmly controlled the initiative. According to post-match statistics, Shanghai Port recorded 21 shots while Guoan had only 5; Shanghai Port also led possession 60% to 40%, and the corner count was even more one-sided at 14 to 1. However, despite being completely on the defensive, Guoan showed strong resilience, while Shanghai Port missed several good scoring opportunities. The two teams eventually drew 0-0.

Having dominated the match but failed to take all three points was clearly disappointing for head coach Muscat. At the post-match press conference, he said: "This match gave me mixed feelings. From the result, it feels like we dropped two points, but the team's performance throughout the game was still excellent. From the beginning to the end, we performed well; perhaps we were only lacking the final touch. We are still working on refining our style of play, and I am still quite satisfied with the team's performance tonight." Melendo, who has been in excellent form recently, added: "Our performance was as strong as the previous match (against Taishan). We just lacked a little luck and did not score quickly enough. If the first goal had arrived, more goals would have naturally followed."

The visiting team was clearly able to accept the draw. Guoan head coach Montgomery admitted: "It is true that the opponent was better on the field tonight, and their squad depth was also far superior to ours. We had many players missing due to injuries, but the players who were on the field were excellent. In adversity, what tests us is the spirit of fighting hard and unity, and we achieved that today."

Of course, Guoan goalkeeper Hou Sen's outstanding performance also ensured that his team kept a clean sheet. When a reporter asked Muscat to comment on his display, the coach declined. "I won't comment too much on the opposing players. I can talk about our Yan Junling. Although he did not need to make many spectacular saves today, he played a very important role in building attacks from the back. When the three center-backs were building attacks, he continuously provided support and passing options, and he was also a very important part of initiating our attacks."

After this match, the Chinese Super League will enter a break, and Shanghai Port will also begin their AFC Champions League campaign in the middle of this month. Speaking about the integration of the two foreign players Grau and Campos, Muscat told the media: "The situation is not easy for these two new AFC Champions League signings. They previously lacked match intensity and could only maintain their physical condition through training. However, they have kept themselves in very good physical shape and are ready for the AFC Champions League. The team warmly welcomes them and looks forward to their performances. Over the past period, they have integrated well, not only in terms of professional attitude and training performances, but also in their personalities. We are very much looking forward to seeing them deliver excellent performances in the upcoming matches."

Written by: Xinmin Evening News reporter Guan Yin

Photos by: Xinmin Evening News reporter Zhang Long