In a heart-pounding finish, Saudi Arabia defeated China 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the AFC U20 Asian Cup held in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The last-minute goal by substitute Amar Alyuhabi sealed the victory, sending Saudi Arabia to the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
The match was a display of China's strong possession, yet their young squad struggled to capitalize on numerous opportunities, including a missed penalty in the second half. Head coach Dejan Djurdjevic fielded China's strongest lineup, hoping to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
Saudi Arabia made strategic substitutions in the final 30 minutes, bringing on Alyuhabi and Haji, who combined seamlessly to find the back of the net. Alyuhabi's decisive right-footed shot in the 95th minute, assisted by a cross from Talal Haji, left the Chinese goalkeeper with no chance.
Earlier in the game, China came close to breaking the deadlock. In the 30th minute, Wang Yudong nearly scored, but his shot went just wide. Later, Wang won a penalty in the 59th minute, but Liu Chengyu's attempt was saved by the Saudi goalkeeper.
In another quarterfinal match, Australia edged out Iraq with a thrilling 3-2 victory, securing their place in the semifinals and the FIFA U20 World Cup. With these results, both Saudi Arabia and Australia have guaranteed their participation in the upcoming global tournament.
Fans are buzzing with excitement as these young talents prepare to showcase their skills on the world stage in Chile from September to October. Stay tuned for more updates on the AFC U20 Asian Cup and the journey to the FIFA U20 World Cup!
Reference(s):
China lose to Saudi Arabia in U20 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinals
cgtn.com
