In their opening match of the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, also known as the East Asian Cup, the Chinese mainland’s national team faced a tough 3-0 defeat against hosts South Korea on Monday.
South Korea dominated the game from the start, showcasing their skill with efficient passing and dynamic possession play. In just the eighth minute, Lee Dong-gyeong launched a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box, opening the scoring. Thirteen minutes later, Joo Min-kyu extended South Korea’s lead to 2-0 with a well-placed header, leaving the Chinese side trailing at halftime.
After the break, the Chinese team, under caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic, attempted to regain momentum. Despite their efforts, South Korea sealed their victory in the 57th minute when Kim Ju-sung scored from close range following a corner kick.
The Chinese mainland’s squad featured several young talents, including 2006-born players Kuai Jiwen and Wang Yudong, who were both in the starting lineup. Coach Djurdjevic acknowledged the challenges his team faced against a strong opponent like South Korea.
“They scored early and played very smoothly, which put us under a lot of pressure,” Djurdjevic said after the match. “We didn’t perform as well as we hoped, but I appreciate the efforts of all our players on the pitch.”
He emphasized the importance of preparing for upcoming matches. “This isn’t the right time for an in-depth analysis. We need to ensure our players are ready and in better condition for the next games,” he added. “Some players couldn’t participate due to injuries, so we had to make the best use of the squad we had.”
Looking ahead, the Chinese mainland team will face Japan on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from this defeat.
