History was made this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Chinese mainland U23 team punched its ticket to the AFC U23 Asian Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever! After a 0-0 draw with Thailand on Wednesday, they booked their spot in the knockout stage with a rock-solid defensive display. ⚽🛡️
Group D was no walk in the park: a goalless opener against Iraq, a hard-fought 1-0 win over Australia, and the latest stalemate with Thailand saw the Chinese mainland U23 team finish second. Australia topped the group after rallying past Iraq 2-1.
In the showdown with Thailand, things got physical early on – three players from the Chinese mainland U23 team picked up yellow cards before half-time. But clear chances were few and far between, as both sides focused on not conceding rather than chasing flashy plays.
Standout star? Goalkeeper Li Hao. The man between the sticks was in beast mode, pulling off a string of crucial saves. His most spectacular stop came in the 57th minute, denying Iklas Sanron at close range after a slick through ball. 🧤🔥
"I'm very happy. We handled every step well and achieved our goal," said striker Wang Yudong. "Everyone performed very well, and we also fully executed the head coach's requirements."
Up next: a blockbuster quarterfinal clash this Saturday, Jan 17, in Jeddah against Group C winners Uzbekistan. Will the Chinese mainland U23 team keep the dream alive and reach the semifinals? 👀
Don't miss a moment as they chase history in Jeddah!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
