In an electrifying match on Thursday night, Zhejiang Professional from the Chinese Super League clinched their first win in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two, defeating Indonesia's Persib Bandung 1-0 at home in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. ⚽️🎉
Despite having less ball possession, Zhejiang brought the heat with relentless offense! 🔥 They tallied nine shots with four on target, overshadowing Persib's five attempts. Cheng Jin and Jean Kouassi were the dynamic duo of the night, constantly threatening Persib's defense. 🙌
Cheng Jin nearly opened the scoring twice, with close-range shots in the 10th and 56th minutes, only to be denied by Persib's goalkeeper, Kevin Ray Mendoza. 😱 Meanwhile, Kouassi dazzled from the left wing, his fierce shots testing Mendoza's reflexes throughout the game. 🌟
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when a Persib defender couldn't clear a pass into the box. The ball landed at Kouassi's feet, and he unleashed a thunderbolt! ⚡️ Though Mendoza got a hand on it, the shot was unstoppable, giving Zhejiang the lead. GOAL! 🥅🎯
As the clock ticked down, Zhejiang bolstered their defense by bringing in Qian Jiegei and Gu Bin. Persib's last chance to equalize came in the 89th minute with a free kick, but the resulting header missed the mark. Close, but no cigar! 😬
The final whistle blew, sealing a well-deserved victory for Zhejiang. Fans erupted in cheers, celebrating the team's first win in the tournament. 🎇🥳 Way to go, Zhejiang! Next stop: building on this momentum for the rest of the AFC Champions League Two campaign. 🚀
Reference(s):
Zhejiang beat Persib Bandung for 1st win in AFC Champions League Two
cgtn.com
