China at risk of early elimination from U23 Asia 2024

China Qatar is at risk of being eliminated from the group stage one match early, after losing 0-2 to South Korea in the second round of Group B of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship.

China are bottom of the group with no points like UAE, three points behind Japan and six points behind South Korea. In theory, China still have a chance to qualify for the knockout stage if UAE beats Japan today, then China wins UAE and Japan loses to South Korea in the final round. At that time, China, Japan and UAE have three points each and will be considered based on the head-to-head record between the two teams.

In reality, it will be more difficult when Japan is rated higher than UAE. "Samurai Blue" only needs to draw with UAE to immediately eliminate China, regardless of the result of the last match.

Lee Young-jun celebrates scoring the opening goal in South Korea's 2-0 win over China in the second round of Group B of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship. Photo: AFC

China let South Korea control the ball and showed their sharpness in counterattacking. In the 18th minute, China counterattacked on the right wing and then brought the ball into the penalty area for Tao Qianglong to shoot and the ball went over the post. In the 24th minute, Xie Wenneng turned from the right wing into the penalty area and then curled his left foot into the top left corner of the goal but Kim Jeong-hoon flew to block it.

China wasted many chances and paid the price in the 34th minute. Kang Sang-yoon passed the ball to Lee Young-jin before shooting with his right foot and left foot to beat goalkeeper Huang Zihao.

Striker Behram Abduweli (red shirt left) wasted many opportunities in front of the Korean goal. Photo: AFC

In the second half, the Chinese goal was shaken after Kang Seong-jin's shot hit the right post in the 51st minute. After that, the Korean defense continued to pass the ball back carelessly, but Tao Qianglong wasted the opportunity to face the goalkeeper. Immediately, Korea counterattacked, sending the ball to Lee Young-jun in the penalty area. The number 6 striker controlled it, then pushed it a step before shooting with his left foot, threading the Chinese defender into the lower right corner, leaving Huang Zhihao no time to react.

Leading 2-0, South Korea took the initiative to play slowly but China could not find a way to approach the goal. In the 82nd minute, coach Cheng Yaodong continued to send 2m tall goalkeeper Yu Jinyong onto the field to look for a header opportunity but failed. China lost their second match and have yet to score a goal at the 2024 AFC U23 Championship.

Starting lineup

Korea: Kim Jeong-hoon, Cho Hyun-taek, Hwang Jae-won, Seo Myung-guan, Byeon Jun-soo, Paik Sang-hoon, Kang Sang-yoon, Eom Ji-sung, Kang Seong-jin, Kim Min-woo, Lee Young-jun

China: Huang Zihao, Liang Shaowen, Jin Shunkai, Ruan Qilong, Yang Zihao, Tao Qianglong, Jia Feifan, Duan Dezhi, Liu Zhurun, Xie Wenneng, Behram Abduweli.

Hieu Luong

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