In a thrilling opener of the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup, China's U17 team fought hard but fell short in a 2-1 defeat to hosts Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The match was full of dramatic twists that kept fans on the edge of their seats ⚽.
Saudi Arabia struck early when an onrushing Chinese goalkeeper, Yihesan Yilamu, slipped in the 11th minute, allowing Abdulhadi Matari to slot the ball home. The momentum continued as the hosts doubled their lead in first‐half stoppage time with a swift finish by Osamah Al Daghmah during a well-orchestrated counterattack.
China showed resilience, pulling one back in second‐half stoppage time when Wei Xiangxin delivered a precise shot into the near corner. Despite this late burst of energy, the effort wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
Placed in Group A alongside Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Thailand, the stage is set for more intense match-ups. With Uzbekistan already registering a convincing 4-1 win over Thailand, China's next test comes on Sunday against the Uzbeks. This tournament also serves as an Asian qualifier for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar, promising plenty of high-stakes action ahead!
Reference(s):
China fall to hosts Saudi Arabia in AFC U17 Asian Cup opener
cgtn.com
