Cover News Reporter Ji Xing
On September 15, the East Asia Division of the 2026-27 Asian Champions League Classic kicked off. Two Chinese participating clubs, Shanghai Haigang and Beijing Guoan, made their debut. In the end, Shanghai Harbor defeated Thai team Ratchaburi 6-4 in an away game, and Beijing Guoan defeated Korean club Pohang Ironman 3-1 at home. The Chinese club won the first round.
Due to poor performance in recent seasons, the number of Chinese clubs’ participation quotas has been surpassed by Thailand. This season, they have only received two AFC Champions League elite tournaments and one AFC Champions League second-level quota. In order to enhance the competitiveness of Chinese Super League clubs in the AFC Elite League, the Chinese Football Association has specially launched the “AFC Exclusive Foreign Aid” policy in the summer window of this season. Teams competing in the AFC Champions League can register two additional foreign players to strengthen the lineup, but they can only be used for international competitions, striving to keep up with the rules of the AFC Champions League that do not limit the number of foreign players.
Shanghai Harbor, who debuted first, challenged the 2025-26 Thai Super League third place team Ratchaburi in an away game. At the beginning of the game, facing the opponent’s lineup of nine foreign players, Shanghai Haigang took the initiative first. In the 31st minute, Anpeim scored on the volley. Four minutes later, he received a cross pass from Wu Lei and scored with a volley. In the stoppage time of the first half, Anpeem scored with a single goal to complete the hat trick.
Shanghai Harbor player Wu Lei (second from right) celebrates scoring with teammates
In the second half, Shanghai Harbor’s offensive continued. Wu Lei received a cross from Yue Xin from the left and scored with a diving header. Shanghai Harbor almost sealed the victory 4-0. Then the two scoring heroes were replaced together, with Fu Huan and Claude coming on as substitutes. Shanghai Harbor’s defense made repeated mistakes. Forward Rakotoharimalala from Madagascar scored consecutively for Ratchaburi in the 71st minute, 84th minute and the 5th minute of stoppage time, completing the “hat” and once chasing the point difference to one goal. Shanghai Harbor scored by Grau and Leonardo, and the goal battle was fixed at 6-4, and finally got a good start.
Subsequently, Beijing Guoan faced the fourth-placed Pohang Ironman in the Korean K League in the 2025 season at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium. Only 2 minutes into the game, Beijing Guoan’s AFC Champions League exclusive foreign aid Shadrack made a steal and pushed the ball into the goal, opening the scoring for the home team. In the 6th minute, Beijing Guoan’s young left back Deng Jiefu was called for a foul when making a clearance. Pohang Ironman’s Transziska hit a penalty kick to equalize the score. Guoan immediately launched a counterattack. Shadrach’s shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked. The veteran Zhang Xizhe who followed up scored with a supplementary shot. Beijing Guoan took the lead again. At the beginning of the second half, Beijing Guoan’s corner kick caused a scuffle in the penalty area. German foreign aid Dudziak got ahead of his opponent and shot into the net. In the end, Beijing Guoan defeated Pohang Ironman 3-1 and got off to a good start.
Beijing Guoan player Zhang Xizhe (right) celebrates scoring with his teammates
After this round, both Chinese teams got off to a good start against not-so-powerful opponents. The next round of matches between the two teams will be held on October 13 (Tuesday). Shanghai Harbor will face the 2025 K-League runner-up Daejeon Asiana Citizen at home, while Beijing Guoan will challenge Thai Super League powerhouse Buriram United away.
