Surprisingly, Thailand reversed Singapore 3-1 in a thrilling battle, but regretted to say goodbye due to the inferior goal difference. Singapore goalkeeper Sunny, a player in his forties, showed remarkable valor on the field, making 11 brilliant saves throughout the match. Although his defense ultimately failed to defend the three goals, a key downward save at the end of the game not only made Thailand's advancement hopeless, but also accomplished the miracle of China's advancement. It was an impressive sight to see China advance by virtue of the margin of victory when all three teams were tied on points, goal difference and goals scored.
Thailand's efforts were not in vain. After advancing to the Round of 18, China suffered a humiliating defeat at the beginning of the group stage when they encountered their strongest rivals, Japan, but the team adjusted quickly, beating Bahrain and Indonesia consecutively, still harboring the desire to qualify for the play-offs. This series of victories has allowed them to continue the possibility of a miracle. This is not just a vision for Chinese soccer fans, but also an expectation that the five-star red flag will once again fly in the wind on the stage of a top soccer tournament.
The anti-corruption campaign has achieved remarkable results: Li Tie, former national football coach, Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Football Association, and Du Zhaocai, former deputy director of the General Administration of Sport, have been punished in accordance with the law for their illegal acts. Among them, Li Tie was sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegal gains involving up to 120 million RMB, Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes, and Du Zhaocai was sentenced to 14 years in prison and punished with a fine of 4 million RMB. In addition, 43 persons were banned for life and 17 for five years, making a total of 60 persons penalized. This shows that the soccer sector must remain pure and not allow the erosion of any improper acts.
The anti-triad action is not only targeting the top management, but also the cleaning up of the "small players" is equally severe. Based on the results of the investigations, the Football Association banned those involved, and neither former international players nor young players from small and medium-sized clubs were tolerated. This series of actions has been widely recognized, and the overall culture of soccer has improved significantly.
However, the changes in the soccer world do not stop there. Some old giants, such as Dalian Ren, have announced their dissolution after failing to meet league entry regulations. Since its establishment in 2009, the Dalian Ren club has gone through a process from glory to dissolution. The Shenzhen team also withdrew from the professional league after failing to pass the admission audit, becoming a passing cloud in the history of the Chinese Super League. These incidents reflect the dependence on capital support for the development of the soccer business, and also reveal the necessity of raising the access threshold.
Shanghai Seaport's win was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the season. They successfully defended their title, won the double crown and became the soccer heroes of the season.
