Shanghai Shenhua's performance in the AFC Champions League has sparked controversy. Following their match against Tampines Rovers, there have been claims that the team was on the receiving end of unfair officiating, drawing parallels to the criticism Beijing Guoan faced in the competition last season.
The team secured a 2-1 home victory over Tampines Rovers on September 17th. Xu Haoyang opened the scoring in the 19th minute, with Yang Shuai netting the winner in the 62nd, both assists provided by Gao Tianyi. This result leaves Shenhua with three wins and two losses from their last five matches across all competitions.
Despite the win, discussions have centered on specific refereeing decisions during the match. Critics argue that several key moments did not go Shenhua's way, impacting the flow of the game. This narrative of being 'hard done by' is familiar in the AFC Champions League context for Chinese clubs.
Shanghai Shenhua must now focus on their upcoming fixture, a key home match against Zenit Saint Petersburg on September 27th. The team will be looking to build on their recent victory and stays in the group.
First reported at 手机新浪网
