Chapter 42: Returning to the AFC Champions League

After securing the Chinese Super League championship this season, Dai Zhiwei didn’t even get two days of rest. After celebrating the victory in bed with Zhong Luchun, he was already back in training the very next day. In just four days, Guangzhou Evergrande would face Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League semifinals.

This would be Evergrande’s first encounter with Gamba Osaka. In the quarterfinals, Evergrande had eliminated Kashiwa Reysol with a 4-2 aggregate, marking the fourth time they had advanced past a Japanese team in the AFC knockout stages. Gamba Osaka, on the other hand, had made it to the semifinals after a last-minute winner against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Japanese media held high expectations for Gamba Osaka, the 2008 AFC champion, to challenge Evergrande.

The lineups were as follows:

Guangzhou Evergrande:
Goalkeeper: Zeng Cheng
Defenders: Zou Zheng, Kim Young-gwon, Feng Xiaoting, Zhang Linpeng
Midfielders: Dai Zhiwei, Paulinho, Goulart, Zheng Zhi, Huang Bowen
Forward: Elkeson

Gamba Osaka:
Goalkeeper: Higashiguchi Masaaki
Defenders: Kim Jung-ya, Iwashita Keisuke, Yonekura Nobuhisa, Konno Yasuyuki, Wu Jaesuk
Midfielders: Endo Yasuhito, Kurata Shu, Abe Hiroyuki
Forwards: Patric, Usami Takashi

After a series of procedural formalities, the match finally began, with Evergrande kicking off. Dai Zhiwei tapped the ball back to his own half after receiving it from Elkeson. Feng Xiaoting controlled the ball, glancing quickly at his teammates’ positions, but finding no ideal option, he sent the ball down the right flank. Zhang Linpeng ran a few paces, and without waiting for the ball to settle, played it forward in a swift pass. Goulart immediately moved to meet the ball. Endo Yasuhito, knowing Goulart was a dangerous player, stayed close.

As the ball rolled near, Goulart lifted his left foot for a cross towards the center, but missed entirely. “Did he miss on purpose?” Endo frowned, unable to decipher the trick. In the next instant, the ball slipped not only past Goulart, but also right through Endo’s legs, rolling behind both of them. Having intentionally missed, Goulart quickly pivoted, sprinted past Endo’s left side, and chased after the ball. By the time Endo turned to pursue him, several meters already separated them, leaving Endo frustrated and shaking with anger. For a defender, to be nutmegged is a great humiliation—let alone in this manner!

Endo’s mood was now worse than if he’d swallowed a fly. Goulart, unconcerned with his feelings, surged down the wing, slicing through Osaka’s defense as though they weren’t there, and in the blink of an eye arrived at the right side of the penalty area. He sent in a cross with a beautiful arc towards the edge of the penalty box. Gamba’s center-back, Iwashita Keisuke, prepared to head the ball clear, but a flash of red darted past him, racing straight into the box.

By the time Iwashita realized it, the opponent had already covered more than ten meters—such explosive power and speed! It was “Little Bear” Elkeson, outmuscling Gamba’s defender and leaping for the header. But it was too far out for Elkeson to threaten the goal. Spotting a teammate out of the corner of his eye, he flicked the ball with his head. Still, he underestimated Dai Zhiwei’s pace, and the ball placement was less than ideal.

“Too close!” Dai Zhiwei muttered. Were he as tall as some towering forward, there’d be no way to adjust, but fortunately, his own build was nimble. He adjusted slightly, cushioning the ball with the inside of his left thigh, then lashed it with his right foot. The ball flew towards the left side of the goal. Lacking space to generate full power, the shot wasn’t strong—well-placed, but not fast. Gamba’s keeper, Higashiguchi, shuffled quickly and leaped, punching the ball away just under the crossbar and out for a corner.

Evergrande’s fans, seated close to the pitch, had already risen to celebrate, only to be left crestfallen as the keeper made a miraculous save. Some of the more agitated supporters couldn’t help but hurl insults at Higashiguchi. Elkeson, wide-eyed, stared in disbelief at Dai Zhiwei, exclaiming, “Whoa! Dai, you’re so fast—I didn’t expect that!” Dai Zhiwei just smiled and shrugged, saying nothing. Elkeson had only just returned from injury and hadn’t had enough time to build chemistry with him.

Unexpectedly, Evergrande opted for a short corner. Goulart barely had time to straighten up before quickly passing the ball out. Zhang Linpeng, having surged forward, raced a few steps and crossed the ball back into the box. The ball soared towards the penalty spot, where Elkeson, his back to goal, braced against the defender and let the ball go past the first point of contact. Then, turning swiftly, he swung his left foot as the ball bounced up, striking it well but losing balance and tumbling to the ground.

Bang!

The ball skimmed the grass, flying fast towards the bottom left corner. Higashiguchi, lowering his center of gravity, dived and deflected the ball out of the box. Today, Higashiguchi was in exceptional form, delivering a performance above his usual standard.

Dai Zhiwei picked up the ball again, preparing to combine with Huang Bowen for a one-two, but was pulled down by a defender. The whistle he’d hoped for finally came. In the 29th minute of the first half, Evergrande earned a superb free kick about 29 meters from goal.

Teammates gathered around, but under the sharp gaze of Paulinho, everyone backed off. Paulinho adjusted the ball, took seven or eight steps back, narrowed his eyes at the defenders, and waited silently for the referee’s whistle.

At the sound, Paulinho set off, his legs quickening. Planting his left foot, he struck the bottom of the ball hard with the inside of his right. A dazzling rainbow spun over the wall. Higashiguchi stood in the center of the goal, eyes fixed on the ball’s flight, head turning only as it flew into the net, without making a move.

The shot was simply too fast!

“Sigh, when will I have enough points to redeem Tsubasa Ozora’s ‘Curve Shot’?” Dai Zhiwei thought, both envious and jealous.

“One step at a time… I’ll save up for Kojiro Hyuga’s ‘Tiger Shot’ first. Should take just two or three more matches,” he calculated.

“Yeah!” Paulinho had just scored his first free kick goal in the Premier League, and jumped up in excitement. His teammates swarmed him. With a one-goal lead, the match was now in Evergrande’s favor.

The remainder of the first half saw both sides trading attacks, but both goalkeepers—Higashiguchi and Zeng Cheng—were in top form, leaving no real scoring opportunities. The teams went into halftime with Evergrande leading 1-0.

“Today, I want us to celebrate our league title with a resounding victory and settle this tie here and now. Let’s not bring any trouble with us for the away leg. I think that’s what most of you want, isn’t it?” Cannavaro encouraged the team in the locker room.

“No problem!” Team captain Zheng Zhi shouted, patting Cannavaro’s shoulder and leading the way out. Goulart and Dai Zhiwei followed, and the rest of the players trailed behind, ready for the second half.

As the second half began, the players returned to the field. Trailing by a goal, Gamba Osaka increased their attacking intensity, pushing eight players forward—the only ones staying back were the two center-backs and the goalkeeper. Even the fullbacks were almost playing as wingers, with nearly the entire team joining the attack. Their offensive play finally began to flow.

One must admit, Japanese football has its own unique style, from high school teams to the national squad. This has ensured a steady talent pipeline, unlike in Chinese football.

However, compared to Gamba Osaka, Evergrande, with its foreign stars, still held the upper hand. The Japanese side’s shift in formation left their defense weakened, making it much easier for Evergrande’s forwards to receive the ball, unlike in the first half when Dai Zhiwei and Elkeson were instantly surrounded by defenders every time they touched the ball.

“Now it’s up to me!” Dai Zhiwei was ready to seal the victory for his team. He had returned to the right wing, continuing his intense, electrifying play from the first half, constantly tormenting Gamba’s fullbacks.

Spurred on by Paulinho’s goal, Dai Zhiwei’s hunger for a goal of his own grew even fiercer. Every time he burst into the box, he alternated between passing and shooting from distance, leaving Gamba’s defenders clueless about his next move. His lively presence also created more opportunities for Goulart and Elkeson.