In a tightly contested finale at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship in Yongin, South Korea, the Chinese mainland side edged the Hong Kong team 1-0 to claim third place in the tournament.
The breakthrough came in the 20th minute when defender Huang Zhengyu tapped home a close-range finish, capping a slick move orchestrated by forward Zhang Yuning just outside the box.
With renewed energy after halftime, the Chinese mainland increased the tempo, creating multiple chances before holding on to secure the narrow win by the final whistle.
Caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic reflected on the competition’s value: "Facing strong regional rivals fuels growth. We’re blending youth and experience to showcase the future of our national team and Chinese football."
Goalkeeper Yan Junling added that the tournament had dual aims: giving young talents critical minutes and exposing them to high-intensity international play. "Many debuted tonight and grew with each match. They’ll carry these lessons forward," he said.
Captain Zhang Yuning noted the showdowns with Japan and South Korea underscored the need to elevate domestic league intensity. "Building team chemistry through such games will boost our prospects ahead of the Asian Cup and World Cup," he said.
Japan retained their title after defeating hosts South Korea 1-0, finishing the tournament with a perfect record, while the Chinese mainland squad leaves with promising insights and a glimpse of its next generation.
Reference(s):
China beat China's Hong Kong 1-0, finish third at East Asian Cup
cgtn.com
