Having defeated Uzbekistan on penalties, China U23 will face Vietnam U23 in the semi-finals. (Photo: AFC)
The Uzbekistan U23 and China U23 teams delivered a tense match, with the Central Asian team dominating possession, but goals eluded them throughout the 90 minutes of regulation time, forcing the two teams into extra time.
From the start of the match, the Uzbekistan U23 team showed the class of a championship contender with superior ball control and constant attacks. The players under the Uzbekistan coach pressed their opponents with a fast-paced style of play and numerous shots both inside and outside the penalty area. However, all their efforts were thwarted by the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Li Hao. The Chinese U23 goalkeeper made a series of spectacular saves, from close-range shots to dangerous situations.
Under immense pressure, the Chinese U23 team opted for a tight defensive style, with a deep formation and a large number of players in their own half. This tactic proved effective as they held firm in the first half, minimizing the space for the opponent to exploit and keeping a clean sheet after the first 45 minutes.
In the second half, the game became more balanced. The Chinese U23 team played more confidently and proactively in their attacks, not only defending but also trying to organize counter-attacks when opportunities arose. However, the Uzbekistan U23 team still created more dangerous situations, but the same scenario repeated itself as Li Hao remained an insurmountable obstacle.
Despite the suffocating final pressure from Uzbekistan U23, neither team could score in regular time or extra time, forcing a penalty shootout to decide the winner. There, the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Li Hao helped China U23 secure a historic first-ever semi-final appearance.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/u23-chau-a-2026-thang-uzbekistan-trung-quoc-gap-viet-nam-tai-ban-ket-730487.html
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