The match time for China’s U23 team against Japan is set: kickoff at 11 PM on January 24th. Winning the championship will be tough—can we prevail?

On January 23rd Beijing time, the U23 Asian Cup final is set to kick off between China and Japan, Asia’s number one. These two teams will engage in a fierce battle for the championship. The match time is confirmed for 11 PM on the 24th, with CCTV5 broadcasting live throughout. Without a doubt, this promises to be an exciting contest. Winning will be difficult—can we do it?

This Asian Cup is held in Saudi Arabia, with China entering as a fourth-seeded team. The team went undefeated with three wins in the group stage, finishing second to advance to the knockout rounds—marking China’s first time reaching this stage. In the quarterfinals, they faced former Asian Cup champions Uzbekistan, who topped their group undefeated. Uzbekistan’s youth squad was very strong, but thanks to goalkeeper Li Hao’s outstanding performance, we withstood wave after wave of attacks, kept a clean sheet, and pushed the game to penalties. In the shootout, we saved one penalty and won 4-2, causing a major upset to reach the semifinals and make history. Against a rising Vietnamese team in the semifinals, what was expected to be a tough match turned into an offensive masterclass by us, dominating Vietnam 3-0 and ending their five-game unbeaten streak to reach the final—another historic achievement!

The final opponent is Japan, Asia’s top-ranked team and the defending champions. Japan has been unstoppable so far, winning all three group matches without conceding a goal to top their group. In the quarterfinals, although taken to penalties by Jordan, they narrowly advanced. In the semifinals against East Asian rival South Korea, Japan maintained the upper hand and, despite missing several chances, secured a 1-0 victory. They have now won five consecutive matches and reached the final again, making back-to-back Asian Cup final appearances!

In terms of strength, Japan is undoubtedly the stronger side. Their attacking power is formidable, making them the highest-scoring team in this tournament. Meanwhile, China boasts the best defense, having not conceded a single goal so far. This final is therefore seen as a clash of contrasting styles—an intense and thrilling battle!

This marks China’s first continental final in 22 years and represents our best chance to claim the Asian Cup title. Chinese football desperately needs this championship. However, our opponent is Japan, so we must focus on solid defense and quick counterattacks. Li Hao’s performance will be crucial. When brave warriors meet on a narrow path, victory belongs to the bold—let’s go!

Written by / Sports Novels