China's national football team clinched third place at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over China's Hong Kong in Yongin, South Korea, on Tuesday. The match marked a spirited end to their campaign as Japan retained the title by defeating hosts South Korea 1-0 in the final.
Huang Zhengyu's 20th-minute strike, assisted by Zhang Yuning, proved decisive in a tightly contested game. China maintained pressure throughout the second half, testing Hong Kong's defense while showcasing improved coordination under caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic.
Djurdjevic emphasized the tournament's role in team development: "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 highlighted the value of exposing new players to high-level competition, noting many made their national team debuts during the event.
Captain Zhang Yuning pointed to lessons from facing regional powerhouses: "As we continue to build chemistry through future games, we will have better prospects heading into tournaments like the Asian Cup and the World Cup." Japan's victory cemented their dominance in East Asian football, winning all three matches without conceding a goal.
