On January 9, 2022, Beijing time, the final of the 2021 Chinese Football Association Cup was contested between Taishan in Shandong and Haigang in Shanghai. Since the FA Cup final is a game of victory and defeat, the two sides of this match also sent their strongest squads. Shandong Taishan has as many as 7 international starts, plus 4 foreign aides Fellaini, Moises, Sun Zhunhao, Jia Desong such a luxurious lineup, it can be said that it is the only one in the current Chinese Super League.
Forced by injuries, Shanghai Harbor only sent Oscar and Mui's double foreign aid lineup, which is slightly inferior to Shandong Taishan in terms of paper strength. In the end, after 90 minutes of competition, Shandong Taishan defeated Shanghai Harbour 1-0 and was crowned the double champion of the 2021 season. It became the first team to win three doubles after the professionalization of Chinese football. Surpassing the two giants that once created the "Chinese Super League Dynasty", Dalian Wanda and Guangzhou Evergrande have become the first in the history of Chinese football professionalization in the past 28 years (Wanda and Evergrande have both won 2 doubles).
Starting list of both sides:
Taishan, Shandong: Wang Dalei, Zheng Zheng, Shi Ke, Jia Desong, Liu Yang, Sun Zhunhao, Fellaini, Ji Xiang, Moises, Guo Tianyu, Xu Xin
Shanghai Seaport: Yan Junling, Lv Wenjun, Yu Hai, He Xi, Li Shenyuan, Wang Shenchao, Mai Tijiang, Oscar, Mu Yi, Zhang Huachen, Hu Jinghang
Highlights of the competition:
In the 16th minute of the match, Shanghai Harbor was awarded a set-piece opportunity in front of the field. Oscar, Mai Tijiang and Zhang Huachen cooperated with each other to play a beautiful tactical free kick. Mai Tijiang gently pushed the ball back to Oscar, and then pulled away with Zhang Huachen one left and one right to the sides. Oscar got up and sent the ball to the most dangerous area of the penalty area, but Fellaini rushed to push the ball out first, thus helping Shandong Taishan to overcome the danger.
In the 28th minute of the game, Shandong Taishan midfielder Xu Xin exploded. At that time, the left side of Taishan In Shandong was widely shifted, and the ball fell to Xu Xin's feet. Xu Xin, who has reached a higher level this season, stopped with his right foot to face the defender's left foot and buckled, easily shaking out of the shooting space. Then the right foot exploded, and the ball flew towards the audience with the net. Although this burst was not converted into a goal, Xu Xin's smooth movements were simply pleasing to the eye.
In the 46th minute of the match, Shanghai harbor player Hu Jinghang fell to the ground in the penalty area and the referee did not show any indication. At that time, Hu Jinghang received a pass from Mui in the penalty area, did not take the initiative to take the ball but stood in position, waiting for the defender to come up, and then fell to the ground after physical contact. There really wasn't anything wrong with the referee's decision.
In the 80th minute of the match, the first goal of the game was finally ushered in, and the only goal of the whole game. At that time, Shandong Taishan won a great free kick opportunity in front of the field, but unfortunately the direct attack hit the crossbar and popped up. Shanghai harbor goalkeeper Yan Junling then knocked the ball out of the box, and Shandong Taishan defender Jia Desong rushed to the scene and shot the ball like a cannonball out of the chamber.
The ball crossed the dense crowd and Yan Junling's ten-finger pass to the net, and Shandong Taishan won the game 1-0. In other words, Shandong Taishan's loaned defender Jia Desong is really tight!