China’s women’s national football team fell to a 2-0 defeat against Mexico in their final match at the Pinatar Cup in Spain on Tuesday night, finishing third in the tournament.
After drawing 1-1 with Canada and securing a dominant 4-0 victory over Chinese Taipei earlier in the competition, China’s squad faced a challenging match against the 31st-ranked Mexicans.
Mexico took an early lead in the fifth minute when Alice Soto capitalized on a defensive error, striking a remarkable volley from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
Just ten minutes later, Mexican captain Jacqueline Ovalle doubled the lead, breaking through China’s defense and expertly beating the offside trap to score.
China had a chance to pull one back before halftime when Zhang Xin sent a precise through ball to Jin Kun, but Jin’s one-on-one effort narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, coach Shui Qingxia made several substitutions, introducing Li Mengwen, Zhi Jie, Tang Jiali, and Huo Yuexin to boost the attack.
Despite dominating possession and increasing pressure on Mexico, China struggled to convert their opportunities, with key passes and finishing lacking precision.
As a result, China concluded the friendly tournament with one win, one draw, and one loss, securing third place overall. Canada claimed the title, Mexico finished second, and Chinese Taipei placed fourth.
