On January 30, 2024, the Asian Cup quarter-finals saw the China Team face Bahrain.
The teams that finished first in their group usually faced weaker opponents, and the China Team continued its good fortune, encountering Bahrain, a team slightly weaker than themselves.
Before the match began, He Wei gave his pre-match analysis: "In past encounters, the two sides often ended in draws. Bahrain's tight defense has created a lot of trouble for the China Team. The China Team under Jankovic plays well on the counter-attack, but their positional play is mediocre. Not only is their breakthrough ability in the frontfield poor, but there isn't much support from the midfield, and the backfield is always prone to mistakes.
Gao Nuo's addition helps with breakthroughs in the frontfield. As for whether he can break through Bahrain's tight defense, we'll have to see how he performs during the match."
As the entrance ceremony concluded, the match officially began. The China Team still employed a 4-4-2 formation, focusing on attacks down both flanks.
In the 3rd minute of the match, Gao Nuo received the ball on the right side. Two of Bahrain's center-backs came up to defend. They maintained their distance from Gao Nuo and didn't press, simply blocking all of his forward routes. Helpless, Gao Nuo could only pass the ball back.
Wu Xi received the ball and quickly passed it to the left wing. Dai Weijun attempted to get to the byline but was thwarted by a defender, who put the ball out for a throw-in.
Bahrain's announced formation before the match was 3-4-2-1, but facing the China Team's attack, their two defensive midfielders stood directly in the penalty area, and their two attacking midfielders dropped back to the midfield. Only the lone striker remained in the center circle, clearly having switched to a 7-2-1 formation.
With five defenders stacked in the center, whenever either Gao Nuo or Wu Lei got the ball, two players would immediately close in to double-team them, effectively locking down the China Team's two strikers.
It wasn't until the 30th minute that the China Team threatened Bahrain's goal from a set piece. Gao Nuo won Wu Xi's free-kick, heading the ball against the crossbar. The ball rebounded into a scramble of players. In the ensuing chaos, Bahrain's center-backs blocked two consecutive shots before finally clearing the ball out for a throw-in.
Jankovic on the sidelines had a solemn expression. Facing such an impenetrable defense, he was contemplating a solution. If he was not mistaken, Bahrain would certainly increase their pressing in the second half, using speed to attack the China Team's defense. At that point, pushing forward would be difficult, and not pushing forward would be even worse.
While the coach was deep in thought, Gao Nuo and Wu Lei had already exchanged signals. They were preparing to try their previous combination play.
In the 39th minute, Gao Nuo, who had dropped back to the attacking midfield position, still had two defenders marking him. He looked at Wu Lei and the three defenders in front of him.
Gao Nuo abandoned attacking through the middle. After passing back to Wu Xi, Gao Nuo attempted to break through the encirclement and execute a wall pass with Wu Xi. However, he was surprised to find that the two players marking him completely ignored Wu Xi and simply stayed close to him.
Wu Xi comfortably advanced 10 meters before a defender finally came to challenge him. At this point, both Wu Lei and Gao Nuo were surrounded by two defenders. Helpless, Wu Xi took a shot.
His long-range shot was decent, and Bahrain's goalkeeper was very cautious, firmly punching the ball away, allowing the China Team players to win the rebound and continue to organize their attack.
Seeing Gao Nuo still trying to use his speed to create space, Captain Wu Xi took advantage of the goalkeeper's goal kick to run over to him: "Little Gao, conserve your energy. The second half will be very intense."
Unlike Gao Nuo, the veteran national players had played against Bahrain many times and had experienced numerous matches that were ground down to draws. They all knew that Bahrain's counter-attack in the second half would be the opportunity for both sides – either they would be killed by the counter-attack, or they would capitalize on Bahrain's mistakes to win the match.
The teams entered halftime with a 0-0 score. The first half was quite ugly, with both sides taking a total of 8 shots – the China Team with 6 and Bahrain with 2. Only Gao Nuo and Wu Xi had one shot on target each. Bahrain's defense and the China Team's offense were both quite sleep-inducing.
In the China Team's locker room, Jankovic was setting up tactics, "Bahrain will definitely counter-attack in the second half. Defenders, stay focused. We cannot push forward in the second half; you are at a disadvantage in terms of speed.
The two wingers, push up and just cross the damn ball! Gao Nuo and Wu Lei, attack the ball. Wu Xi and Xu Xin, you two stay in midfield and strengthen the counter-press.
Finally, if they dare to attack, everyone watch Gao Nuo and Wu Lei's positions and just boot the ball long to the frontfield. Don't worry about them not being able to catch up!
Any questions?"
"No!!!"
The China Team's coaching staff's translator was very skilled, not only translating the content but also enhancing the tone, interspersing a few national curses, which further boosted the players' morale.
At the same time, in Bahrain's locker room, the coach was also motivating his players: "The China Team is not strong. Look at that Manchester United striker; our defense has been very successful. In the last 30 minutes of the match, I need you to push forward! Stamina and speed are our advantages. Go! Win the match!"
Today, commentator He Wei was somewhat helpless. There wasn't much to say about the match situation. During halftime, he could only use past encounters between the two teams as examples to predict the tactical changes of both sides in the second half. Finally, after enduring 15 minutes, the second half began.
As arranged by both coaches, the China Team continued to play crosses from the flanks, while Bahrain defended for a period before starting their counter-attacks.
In the 63rd minute, facing sudden high pressure, the China Team's ball control suffered. Deng Hanwen's back pass from the right lacked power and was intercepted by Bahrain.
Apart from the three center-backs and two defensive midfielders, Bahrain's other players began to quickly push forward. The midfielder who won the ball didn't have great footwork; he simply kicked the ball towards the byline, letting his teammates use their speed to challenge for it.
Bahrain's striker was indeed very fast. Zhang Linpeng, unable to keep up, could only pull and tug, and at the cost of a yellow card, he stopped this counter-attack.
Bahrain's free-kick from the frontfield was sent into the penalty area. Yan Junling made an error in coming out, but fortunately, the ball's landing spot was won by Xu Xin, who cleared it out for a goal kick.
A more focused Yan Junling, after successfully intercepting the opponent's corner kick, launched the ball with a long kick towards the center circle. However, Gao Nuo was involved in the corner kick defense, and Wu Lei, who remained in the frontfield, did not win possession, allowing Bahrain to continue their attack.
Bahraini players' technique was also quite ordinary, and under the pressure of Wu Xi and Xu Xin, they made a passing error.
Liu Binbin, who intercepted the ball, did not forget the coach's instructions, kicking the ball long forward and leaving the rest to the two strikers.
Wu Lei's speed and positioning were not much weaker than Gao Nuo's. If it weren't for his physical disadvantage, he might have performed even better in La Liga.
When Liu Binbin intercepted the ball, both Wu Lei and Gao Nuo started simultaneously. The tall and strong Gao Nuo won the first ball, heading it to Wu Lei on the left.
Wu Lei chested the ball down and poked it forward to the right with his toe.
After landing, Gao Nuo immediately turned forward, perfectly receiving Wu Lei's pass. Facing the advancing defender, Gao Nuo passed back to Wu Lei, continuing to run forward without stopping.
Wu Lei also pushed forward after passing the ball. He received Gao Nuo's return pass and continued to through-pass it into Gao Nuo's path.
The two players' continuous four-pass sequence bypassed two defenders. Gao Nuo, who received the ball again, had only the last defender between him and the goalkeeper.
Having been stifled for the entire match, Gao Nuo couldn't resist showing off.
Facing the two players in front of the goal, Gao Nuo's footwork was extremely quick. He pushed the ball to the left with his left foot, feinted a shot, pushed the ball to the left again, and feinted another shot. With two consecutive feints, both the goalkeeper and the defender were fooled and fell to the ground. Gao Nuo easily tapped the ball in, scoring!
The China Team led Bahrain 1-0.
For the remainder of the match, Bahrain began to attack, and the China Team also set up a defensive block, successfully holding onto their lead and constantly creating threats through counter-attacks.
The 90-minute match ended with the China Team defeating Bahrain 1-0. Their next opponent will be Oman.