In an intense showdown at the East Asian Cup in Yongin, South Korea, the Chinese team secured a crucial 1-0 victory against the Hong Kong side, finishing third in the tournament. ⚽
The lone goal came in the 20th minute when Huang Zhengyu found the back of the net after a brilliant assist from Zhang Yuning. The team kept up a high tempo in the second half, creating multiple attacking chances and defending their lead until the final whistle.
After the match, caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic highlighted the value of tough encounters, saying, "In such tough games, we are trying to build a team by blending young and veteran players, so that people can see the future of the national team and Chinese football." 😎
Goalkeeper Yan Junling added, "Many of them played for the national team for the first time, and we actually improved match by match. Hopefully, they can take away valuable lessons from these three games." This experience clearly showcased emerging talent and a strong team spirit.
Captain Zhang Yuning also stressed the importance of facing top opponents like Japan and South Korea, noting that such clashes point to the need for a more intense domestic league. He expressed confidence that enhanced chemistry among the players will boost their prospects in future tournaments like the Asian Cup and the World Cup! 🔥
Off the pitch, Japan made headlines by defeating host South Korea 1-0 to top the standings with three consecutive wins, adding even more excitement to the tournament.
Reference(s):
China beat China's Hong Kong 1-0, finish third at East Asian Cup
cgtn.com
