China's U-20 football team is gearing up for a high-stakes clash against Australia in Group A of the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup in Shenzhen. The hosts secured their knockout stage spot with a dominant 5-2 victory over Kyrgyzstan but face a challenge with midfielder Liu Chenyu suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Key players under caution: Yi Mulan, Yan Xi, and Wang Yifan are one yellow card away from suspension, creating strategic dilemmas for China's coaching staff. Defensive vulnerabilities observed in previous matches remain a concern as they prepare to face Australia's attack.
Quarterfinal outlook: The winner could face Group B opponents like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or the DPRK. With back-to-back wins but lingering defensive questions, China aims to build momentum ahead of the knockout phase starting April 21.
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China set to meet Australia in AFC Under-20 Asian Cup group stage
cgtn.com
