In an electrifying finale in Yancheng, located in east China's Jiangsu Province, the Chinese mainland's U22 team showcased resilience and flair to lift the International Invitation Tournament trophy. Despite a nail-biting 1-1 draw against Vietnam, an unbeaten record with one win and two draws sealed their championship win. ⚽🏆
The match delivered plenty of thrills from the start. Kuai Jiwen nearly put the hosts ahead as his shot rattled the bar, but Vietnam's Nguyen Quoc Viet broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. The intensity rose in the 71st minute when Mutellip Iminqari was brought down in the box, earning China a vital penalty. Afrden Asqer stepped up to convert the kick, equalizing the score just in time.
Even after Zhang Yixuan was shown a second yellow card, leaving the team a man down, China maintained their defensive strength to hold the draw. Earlier in the tournament, a 0-0 stalemate with Uzbekistan and a hard-fought 1-0 win over South Korea set the stage for their title run. This victory not only crowned them champions but also lit up celebrations across Yancheng.
Reference(s):
China win U22 International Invitation Tournament title in Yancheng
cgtn.com
