In a nail-biting qualifier in Xi’an, China and Australia battled to a 0-0 stalemate but still punched their tickets to the U23 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia next January. ⚽️✨
The match in Xi’an, in Shaanxi Province on the Chinese mainland, saw both sides pushing hard. Australia came close in the 39th minute when Nathanael Blair’s header was tipped over by China’s keeper Li Hao. Just three minutes into the second half, Oscar Priestman volleyed straight at Li again—another world-class save! 🙌
“We knew it’d be a tough game against a top squad,” said Australia coach Antony Vidmar. “Our guys fought hard in tricky conditions—proud of that.”
China’s coach Antonio Puche Vicente added with a smile, “Before these qualifiers, I told my squad I wanted to bring joy to fans who’ve waited a while for smiles. Today, we played like 11 Terracotta Warriors on the pitch.” 🏺🔥
With this draw, Australia tops Group D and China joins as one of the four best runners-up. Next stop: the U23 Asian Cup finals kicking off in January 2026 in Saudi Arabia. Stay tuned for more young talents lighting up the field! 🌟
Reference(s):
China, Australia qualify for U23 AFC Asian Cup finals after 0-0 draw
cgtn.com
