In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, China's U17 national team has secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup. Facing the host nation, Saudi Arabia, this past Friday, the Chinese side fought back from an early deficit to claim a decisive 3-1 victory.
The match began with high intensity as Saudi Arabia, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, took an early lead. In the 21st minute, Faisal Bayomi converted from close range after a precise setup by Ammar Maimani on the left flank, putting the hosts ahead 1-0.
However, China's response was swift and determined. Just six minutes later, Wan Xiang found the equalizer. After collecting the ball inside the penalty area, Wan skillfully turned past his defender and slotted a calm finish into the bottom-left corner, leveling the score at 1-1.
As the game progressed into the second half, China's momentum continued to build. The turnaround was completed in the 59th minute when He Sifan provided a clever header into the path of Zhao Songyuan. Reacting quickest inside the six-yard box, Zhao finished from close range to give China a 2-1 lead.
Despite a late push from the Saudi Arabian side to equalize, China sealed the win deep into stoppage time. Midfielder He Sifan delivered a moment of brilliance, dribbling past two defenders before unleashing a powerful long-range strike that clipped the underside of the crossbar and flew into the net.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the young Chinese squad as they advance to the tournament's final four. Following the match, Zhao Songyuan expressed the team's ambition and confidence.
"We are very excited after beating Saudi Arabia," Zhao stated. "Our next goal is to fight with all our strength, strive to win the championship and continue making history." He added that the team is improving steadily, emphasizing that continued hard work and precision in duels and transitions will be key to winning the title.
Reference(s):
China fights back to beat Saudi Arabia, reach U17 Asian Cup semifinals
cgtn.com
