China’s Under-22 soccer team emerged victorious at the International Invitation Tournament in Yancheng, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday. The team secured the title with an undefeated record after a 1-1 draw against Vietnam in a thrilling final match.
The hosts came close to taking the lead in the first half when Kuai Jiwen’s powerful shot struck the crossbar. Despite China’s early dominance, it was Vietnam’s Nguyen Quoc Viet who opened the scoring in the 31st minute, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
China fought back in the second half, and in the 71st minute, Mutellip Iminqari was fouled inside the penalty area as he attempted to cut inside. This earned China a crucial penalty kick, which Afrden Asqer confidently converted to level the score.
The match took a challenging turn for China when Zhang Yixuan received a second yellow card for a tackle, leaving the team with ten players on the field. However, the hosts displayed resilience and managed to hold off Vietnam’s advances for the remainder of the game.
Earlier in the tournament, China held Uzbekistan to a 0-0 draw and secured a 1-0 victory over South Korea. With one win and two draws, China topped the standings with five points, lifting the championship trophy on home soil.
The triumph in Yancheng marks a significant achievement for China’s young athletes, showcasing their potential on the international stage and bringing pride to fans across the nation.
