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## Shanghai Shenhua's Hopes for Continental Success Dashed Again Despite Domestic Resurgence **Shanghai, China** – Shanghai Shenhua's bid for continental glory ended in disappointment as they crashed out of the AFC Champions League Elite Round, losing 3-1 to Japan's Kawasaki Frontale. Despite a strong start to the domestic Chinese Super League season, Shenhua's struggles in the Asian Champions League continued as they failed to progress beyond the early stages for the third time in four years. Leonid Slutsky's team had high hopes, having finished third in the group stage, but they were comprehensively outplayed by Frontale, the reigning J1 League champions. Shenhua's elimination from the competition is a blow to their ambitions of becoming a major force in Asian football. The club has invested heavily in recent years, bringing in high-profile players and coaches, but they have yet to deliver the continental success that their fans crave. ### Lackluster Performance Against Kawasaki Frontale Shenhua's performance against Frontale was particularly disappointing, as they were outplayed in all areas of the pitch. The Japanese side took the lead after just 10 minutes through Leandro Damiao, and they never looked back. Shenhua struggled to create chances and were defensively shaky, allowing Frontale to score twice more in the second half. Cedric Bakambu netted a late consolation goal for the Chinese side, but it was too little, too late. ### Slutsky Admits Disappointment Slutsky admitted after the match that he was disappointed with his team's performance. “We were not good enough today,” he said. “We made too many mistakes and we were deservedly beaten.” “We have a lot of work to do if we want to be successful in the AFC Champions League,” Slutsky added. “We need to improve our quality and we need to be more consistent.” ### Questions Raised about Shenhua's Continental Ambitions Shenhua's elimination from the AFC Champions League has raised questions about the club's continental ambitions. Despite their heavy investment, they have failed to make a significant impact in Asia. Some observers have suggested that Shenhua may need to rethink their approach to the competition. They may need to focus on developing a more sustainable model that is less reliant on expensive foreign players. ### Domestic Success Offers Solace Despite their continental disappointment, Shenhua can take solace from their strong start to the Chinese Super League season. They are currently second in the standings, just one point behind leaders Wuhan Three Towns. Slutsky's team has won four of their first five league games, and they will be looking to continue their good form when they face Dalian Pro on Saturday. Shenhua's domestic success offers a glimmer of hope that they can still achieve their goals, even if continental glory remains elusive for now.