2-1! 0-0! U23 Asian Cup Quarterfinals Set: Kangaroos' Last-Minute Goal, China Advances Second to Face Uzbekistan

On January 14th Beijing time, the third round of the U23 Asian Cup group stage ended in a dramatic night. In the last two matches, China parked the bus to hold Thailand to a 0-0 draw, while Iraq faced a disastrous four minutes, conceding twice in stoppage time to fall 1-2 to Australia’s last-minute winner. Consequently, China and Australia secured the final two quarterfinal places, with Australia claiming first place with two victories and China finishing second. In the quarterfinals, China will face Uzbekistan, while Australia meets South Korea!

China vs. Thailand. China entered the match unbeaten with 4 points from two games, while Thailand had 1 point from a draw and a loss, both still with chances to advance. China only needed a draw to qualify, but Thailand had to win. Thailand pressed hard in the first half, creating multiple threats, but goalkeeper Li Hao made several saves to keep a clean sheet. In the second half, both teams made substitutions, and despite some unfavorable referee decisions against China, they held firm to a 0-0 draw, finishing the group stage with 1 win and 2 draws, securing second place and advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in Asian Cup history—a remarkable achievement!

Iraq vs. Australia. Iraq had two draws in the first two rounds, while Australia had one draw and one loss, so this match was a knockout for both. The first half saw balanced attacks with a 0-0 score at halftime. Iraq took the lead with a penalty goal, and Australia had a penalty disallowed. However, during an extended 9-minute stoppage time, Australia exploded with a dreamlike four minutes, scoring twice to first equalize and then snatch a last-minute winner. Australia completed a 2-1 comeback over Iraq, clinching the top spot in the group and advancing to the quarterfinals. Australia's strength is undeniable, and China's victory over them is no small feat!

With that, the quarterfinalists of this tournament are set: Vietnam, Jordan, Japan, UAE, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Australia, and China. The quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Japan, with three straight wins, faces Jordan; Vietnam, also unbeaten in three, takes on UAE; China challenges Uzbekistan, who remain undefeated in three matches, making it a tough test; and Australia meets South Korea. Looking forward to seeing which teams reach the semifinals!

Written by / Sports Novel