China's U23 team defeated Vietnam 3-0 in the Asian Cup, reaching the final for the first time in 22 years, set to face Japan for the championship; the match time is confirmed.

On January 21st Beijing time, the U23 Asian Cup semifinals concluded. In the recently finished key match, China and Vietnam competed for a spot in the final. China exploded with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam, advancing to the final for the first time and making history. They will face Japan in a top-tier showdown for the title, with the match scheduled for January 24th at 11 PM!

In this tournament, China advanced from the group stage as runners-up with three unbeaten matches thanks to Li Hao’s outstanding performance, reaching the knockout stage for the first time. In the quarterfinals against favorites Uzbekistan, despite being dominated and heavily pressured throughout the game, Li Hao’s heroics forced a penalty shootout where China triumphed 4-2, making history by reaching the semifinals. Facing Vietnam in the semifinals, a team that had been in excellent form with four straight wins and topped their group, widely praised for their fast-paced style similar to Japan, China surprised everyone after the match!

China made no major lineup changes for this match and started very focused, clearly well-prepared. They controlled possession, pressed aggressively in the front, and denied Vietnam chances in defense. Li Hao made multiple crucial saves, including one from a free kick. In the second half, China exploded offensively, relentlessly attacking Vietnam and scoring goals in quick succession. Peng Xiao opened the scoring from a corner assist. Five minutes later, Xiang Yu surprised everyone with a brilliant spin shot from the arc to extend the lead. Vietnam, already behind, suffered a red card, worsening their situation. China capitalized on the momentum, with substitute Wang Yudong scoring to seal the 3-0 victory. China remained unbeaten in five matches and reached the final as a true dark horse, an astonishing achievement!

With this, China has reached the Asian Cup final again after 22 years, an incredibly uplifting moment, especially achieving it without conceding a goal, which is truly emotional. It’s been a long time since we felt like a strong team. Next, we will battle Japan for the championship. Their offense is strong, our defense is solid, making it a clash of strengths that is highly anticipated. Let’s go!

Written by / Sports Novel