With China’s 4-2 victory over Uzbekistan, three teams from the U23 Asian Cup have reached the semifinals: China will face Vietnam in the semifinals.

On January 18th Beijing time, the third quarterfinal match of the U23 Asian Cup concluded with China and Uzbekistan battling for a semifinal spot. After 120 minutes of goalless play, the match went to a tense penalty shootout. Ultimately, China edged out Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties, securing their place in the semifinals. This means that three of the semifinal slots are now filled by Japan, Vietnam, and China, with one remaining spot yet to be decided!

China faced Uzbekistan after finishing second in their group for the first time and qualifying. They had to meet the very strong Uzbekistan team. Given the strength gap, China’s chance of an upset was slim unless they focused on solid defense, aiming to drag the game into penalties and win through counterattacks!

From the start, Uzbekistan launched wave after wave of attacks, putting China’s goal under constant pressure. Despite the relentless bombardment, China’s defense remained rock solid, denying the opponents any scoring opportunities. The match ended 0-0 and went to penalties, where Uzbekistan missed twice. China ultimately won 4-2, pulling off a stunning upset to reach the semifinals—truly a classic example of the underdog triumphing over a stronger team. This is football at its most thrilling!

China’s advancement to the semifinals was the result of the entire team’s hard work, with everyone prepared for the penalty shootout. The goalkeeper Li Hao’s heroic performance was crucial; it can be said that thanks to him, China made it this far. Facing over 30 shots from Uzbekistan, he made eight crucial saves and even stopped a penalty kick—truly a one-man fortress!

With China now in the semifinals, their opponent has been set: the rapidly improving Vietnam team. This promises to be a blockbuster semifinal clash. Let’s hope China keeps their winning streak going—keep it up, well done!

Written by / Sports Novel