Hey football fans! It was a rollercoaster start for the Chinese mainland in their AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifier, scraping past Timor-Leste 2-1. 😅⚽
First half vibes: Baihelalu Abuduwaili nearly struck early in the 19th minute with a close-range header, only to be denied by Timor-Leste keeper Junildo Manuel Pereira. The breakthrough finally came in the 42nd minute when Baihelamu tapped in Wang Shiqin’s free kick delivery at the goalmouth. Wang Yudong then doubled the lead just before halftime. 🎯
Second half jitters: Timor-Leste’s Paulo Freitas pulled one back in the 52nd minute, sending nerves through the stands. Xiang Yuwang rattled the bar and even missed a one-on-one chance, leaving fans biting their nails until the final whistle. 🥴
Group D update: Australia exploded past the Northern Mariana Islands 14-0, topping the pool on goal difference. The Chinese mainland sit second and will look to find their rhythm again when they face the Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday, while Australia take on Timor-Leste.
Whether you’re cheering from Delhi, Jakarta, or Kuala Lumpur, this qualifier race is heating up fast. Stay tuned and drop your predictions below! 🙌
Reference(s):
China scrape past Timor-Leste in U23 Asian Cup qualifying opener
cgtn.com
