Four-Year Redemption: From Tokyo "Scapegoat" to Asian Cup Hero, Li Qingtong Bids Farewell to Shadows with Two Goals

Reported by Wang Wei In the second round of the Women's Asian Cup group stage against Uzbekistan, Guangzhou-native Li Qingtong started as China's defensive midfielder. She scored two goals in the match, helping the Chinese women's football team defeat their opponent 3-0 and secure a spot in the quarter-finals ahead of schedule.

From the low-level mistakes and red-card gloom at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021 to scoring twice in this Asian Cup, Li Qingtong spent over four years to achieve self-redemption.

In the first round of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic group stage, China lost 0-5 to Brazil. Just nine minutes into the match, Li Qingtong, starting as a defender for China, hesitated while dribbling in defense, allowing a Brazilian forward to steal the ball and score the opening goal. In the second group match against Zambia, Li Qingtong received a red card in the final stages; with one player short, China couldn't change the scoreline, ultimately drawing 4-4. Following a devastating 2-8 loss to the Netherlands in the last group match, China exited the tournament gloomily, and Li Qingtong was thrust into the spotlight of criticism. Labels like "scapegoat" and "defensive liability" flooded towards the then 22-year-old young woman.

Li Qingtong faced the toughest test of her career; how to rise again was crucial for her. Fortunately, after returning to the Women's Super League, she gained the trust and support of the Guangdong women's football coaching staff. Gradually, she emerged from the shadows of the Tokyo Olympics.

Recalling those events, Guangdong women's football head coach Li Hui told reporters: "After returning from Tokyo, Qingtong bore immense pressure and was in a slump for a while. We often counseled and encouraged her then—a person cannot always be up nor always down. When doing well, one must position oneself correctly; when in a trough, one must rebuild confidence. For her, such difficult times were actually excellent opportunities for growth."

Li Qingtong endured the pressure, her role in Guangdong women's football became increasingly pivotal, and she eventually successfully took on the captain's armband. "This child's mentality and ability to resist interference are key to her gradual success," said Li Hui.

Technically, Li Hui noted that Li Qingtong has a relatively balanced offensive and defensive capability, and her physical confrontation and strength meet the national team's requirements. Through these years of experience, she has also reached a high level in psychological resilience, enabling her to maintain stable technical output during matches.

"Gold will always shine," Li Hui said.

In this match against Uzbekistan, Li Qingtong demonstrated both offensive and defensive prowess, not only serving as a shield in the defensive midfield position but also contributing two crucial goals. Regarding her disciple's outstanding performance, Li Hui, who has coached Li Qingtong for ten years, expressed no surprise: "She inherently possesses certain finishing abilities on the field. She has both technique and stable psychology; given opportunities, her strengths will show."

Li Hui also revealed: "Previously, Li Qingtong played as a center-back. After she joined the Guangdong women's football youth梯队 in 2016, I tried moving her to a midfielder position. She didn't play a strictly defined defensive midfielder, as our team employs a three-midfielder tactic without fixed attacking or defensive midfielders—it's a rotating trio. Our coaching staff requires all three midfielders to be balanced in attack and defense."

In recent Women's Super League seasons, Li Hui has been honing Li Qingtong's comprehensive abilities: "She can advance to attack, distribute the ball, control possession and match rhythm—she's a quite all-rounded player. Currently, in the national team, she mostly serves as a shield, but she has strong offensive capabilities. We hope she can display more of her traits in the national team," Li Hui said.

Due to outstanding performances in domestic leagues and last year's 15th National Games, Li Qingtong was finally noticed by Chinese women's football head coach Milicic, rejoined the national team, and traveled with the squad for this Asian Cup.

Li Qingtong gained fame early; she belongs to the 1999-2000 age group and was recruited by Li Hui into the Guangdong women's football youth梯队 in 2016 to prepare for the 13th National Games.

Li Hui told reporters: "Li Qingtong has always been the captain in Guangzhou Football Association women's football youth梯队, consistently steady. We hoped to cultivate her as Guangdong women's football's successor after Tan Ruyin, to become a player with leadership and distinctive qualities."

Born on April 14, 1999, Li Qingtong attended Houluyuan Street Primary School in Haizhu District, Guangzhou from childhood. This school is a traditional football-focused institution in Guangzhou, nurturing many renowned Guangzhou-born male and female football players. Back then, Li Qingtong's personality was lively and cheerful, with good physical fitness. Her teacher described her as smiling, polite, friendly with classmates, a gentle girl, yet inherently tenacious—on the field, she fought fiercely, never complaining about minor injuries or pains, earning the nickname "tough girl."

In the second semester of third grade, Li Qingtong was spotted by grassroots coach Luo Yaochang from Haizhu District业余体校, entering the体校 for formal training. After participating in the Guangzhou City Games in 2011, standout Li Qingtong was selected for the newly forming Guangzhou women's football 1999 age group team, whose main task was preparing for the 2015 Zhanjiang Provincial Games and the first National Youth Games in Fuzhou. At that time, Guangzhou women's football head coach was Chen Yaohua, a famed player from the Guangzhou Apollo era, who highly favored Li Qingtong's excellent physique and all-rounded skills, quickly making her a starter. Under Chen Yaohua's guidance over four years, Li Qingtong progressed rapidly. In the 2015 Provincial Games and first National Youth Games, Guangzhou women's football both achieved亚军, with Li Qingtong playing a核心 role. She played as center-back or defensive midfielder then, but when matches were stalemated or trailing, Li Qingtong was often pushed forward by the coach to冲击 opponents.

In 2014, Li Qingtong was selected for the women's national youth team to participate in the Nanjing Youth Olympics, winning冠军. In 2016, she was输送 to the Guangdong women's football youth team. In the 2017 13th National Games U18组 competition, Li Qingtong, alongside players like Chen Qiaozhu, Chen Xiubing, and熊熙, under head coach Li Hui, achieved亚军.

In October 2020, Li Qingtong首次入选 the Chinese women's football training squad, eventually entering the Olympic qualifiers附加赛大名单, and played against Korea at the Suzhou主场. In 2021, she再次入选 the national team and traveled with the squad to the Tokyo Olympics. Despite poor performance and controversy at Tokyo, Li Qingtong rose from the低谷, returning to the national team after four years.

In Li Hui's view, selection for the national team requires outstanding individual ability and technical traits, as well as certain沉淀.

"Over these past years, Li Qingtong gradually emerged in the Women's Super League. With the retirement of older-generation players, she needs to shoulder greater responsibility. Guangdong women's football's 1999-2000 age group players established themselves较早 in成年队 matches; compared to players from other regions, they matured earlier. We didn't have many veteran players then, so we built the new Guangdong team around them as核心. Initially, they played in women's football leagues as younger against older; now when competing with同龄人 from other teams, their优势 begins to show, and their信心 has risen."

"Now, Li Qingtong is at her黄金阶段 in match experience, physical condition, confidence, and阅历," Li Hui said.

On March 14, following this Asian Cup group match against Uzbekistan, Li Qingtong再次首发, helping China淘汰中国台北 2-0 in the quarter-finals, advancing to the quarter-finals while directly securing a ticket to next year's Brazil World Cup.

Based on her performance in this Asian Cup, perhaps Li Qingtong will play a更大的作用 in next year's World Cup.