China's national football team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Japan in the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship (East Asian Cup) on Saturday, marking their second consecutive loss in the tournament. The match, held in Yongin, the Republic of Korea, saw Japan dominate with goals from Mao Hosoya and Henry Heroki Mochizuki.
Japan struck early when Hosoya converted a precise pass from Satoshi Tanaka in the 11th minute. China nearly equalized minutes later, but Zhang Yuning's one-on-one attempt was saved, and Wei Shihao missed the rebound. Mochizuki sealed Japan's victory with a 63rd-minute long-range strike.
This loss follows China's 3-0 opening defeat to hosts the Republic of Korea on July 7. Despite the results, caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic emphasized the tournament's role in rebuilding the squad: 'We've introduced many new players. While not satisfied, we see promising signs.' Forward Zhang Yuning echoed this sentiment, calling the matches 'valuable experience' for younger teammates.
The team's performance highlights both challenges and opportunities in China's football development strategy, with Djurdjevic noting visible progress among emerging players. Analysts will watch closely as China prepares for future regional competitions.
