⚽ On Thursday in Riyadh, China's U23 squad faced off against Iraq in the opening match of the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup, ending in a goalless draw that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Despite a strong start from both sides, clear chances were few until the 55th minute, when Wang Yudong found himself all alone in the box. He met Yang Xi's precise cross with a close-range volley, but Iraq's keeper Layth Sajid was equal to the task, tipping it over the bar. 😅
As the clock ticked down, China's number one, Li Hao, turned into a wall. He made two last-ditch saves from Aymen Luay's headers to keep the score at 0-0, earning his team a solid point to kick off their campaign. 🧤
Meanwhile, Australia bounced back to beat 10-man Thailand 2-1 in the other Group D showdown, thanks to goals from Ethan Alagich and Mathias Macallister.
With a mix of youth and experience, China's squad features seven players with senior caps and several stars who regularly shine in the Chinese Super League. Their next test comes this Sunday against Australia, followed by a showdown with Thailand next Wednesday. 🌟
The tournament format is simple: 16 teams split into four groups, with the top two in each group moving on to the quarterfinals. Every match counts, and China is hungry to make history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time. 📈
Stay tuned for more updates as the AFC U23 Asian Cup heats up! 🔥
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
