Asian football has ushered in another fierce battle! In the just-concluded U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, four teams with 7 points were born at the same time - China, Australia, Lebanon and Uzbekistan. The most eye-catching one is undoubtedly the Chinese U22 men's football team that successfully broke through the "death group" and the strong Australian team!
Breakthrough: China and Australia work together to win 7 points in total
The Chinese team's journey to this qualifier can be said to be a low start and a high end. In the first match of Timor-Leste, although he won 2-1, the process was not easy; in the second match of Northern Mariana, the team broke out completely and swept the opponent 10-0; in the most critical last game, facing Australia, the strongest opponent in the group, the Chinese team withstood the pressure and tied the opponent 0-0. With 7 points and 11 goals in three games, the Chinese team successfully advanced to the main competition with one of the "Four Best-Second Groups"!
Australia showed strong overall strength, with two wins and one draw, and qualifying as the top spot in the group. The two teams of China and Australia tacitly scored 1 point each in the last round of "strong dialogue" and finally achieved the promotion together, which was a great joy.
Not just China and Australia! The other two 7 teams should not be underestimated
In addition to China and Australia, Lebanon and Uzbekistan also stood out with a record of 7 points. Lebanon defeated Malaysia, drew with Thailand, and defeated Mongolia in Group F, showing a stable competitive state. Uzbekistan defeated opponents such as Palestine and Kyrgyzstan in Group E, and locked in the top spot in the group with strong attack firepower (scoring 8 goals and conceding 3 goals).
The appearance of these four 7-point teams also reflects the fierce competition in this Asian qualifiers. The gap between the points and goal difference between the second teams is very small, and the result of any game may completely change the qualifying situation.
Three new stars shine and become the biggest gain of the Chinese team
In this qualifier, the Chinese U22 men's football team not only completed the qualifying mission, but also won three potential new stars - Wang Yudong, Yang Haoyu and Li Hao. Wang Yudong contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in three games, becoming the most threatening offensive point in the frontcourt of the Chinese team; Yang Haoyu became an indispensable core in the midfield with his large-scale running and balanced offensive and defensive ability; goalkeeper Li Hao made many wonderful saves in key battles to ensure that the goal was not lost.
The outstanding performance of these three young players has attracted many attention. According to industry news, their value has shown a significant upward trend after the qualifiers, and it is possible that their road to studying abroad may even begin in the future.
Main Competition Outlook: Asian Stage, Greater Challenges
Successfully advanced to the main competition is just the beginning for the Chinese U22 men's football team. In next year's U23 Asian Cup, the strength of each team will be stronger and the competition will be more intense. Traditional strong teams such as Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia will all send out the strongest lineups. If the Chinese team wants to achieve good results on this stage, they still need to make more efforts.
However, through the training of this qualifier, the Chinese team has shown enough resilience and potential. Especially the rise of the three new stars has made people look forward to the future of this team. If the current growth momentum can be maintained and tactical shortcomings can be supplemented, the Chinese team may bring more surprises in the main game.
The competitive landscape of Asian football is quietly changing, and the growth of a new generation of players gives people hope. The successful breakthrough of four 7 teams including China and Australia may indicate the rise of new forces in Asian football. Let us look forward to these young players in the main game next year!
