China's opening goal against Vietnam
China went into overdrive in the second half to beat Vietnam 3-0 and book their place in the final against defending champions Japan in the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia last night.
It was a well deserved victory as China dominated the semi-final, with strikes from Peng Xiao, Xiang Yuwang and Wang Yudong taking them into the final for the first time.
Nguyen Dinh Bac was on the bench for the fourth straight game for Vietnam with Nguyen Cong Phuong taking his place, while Antonio Puche made six changes to the China PR side that prevailed on penalties against Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals.
China started on the front foot, with Kuai Jiwen’s shot from inside the box blocked by Nguyen Hieu Minh in the fourth minute while Chen Zeshi drove his long-range effort over the bar.
Another attack saw Vietnam keeper Tran Trung Kien having to go low to deny Xiang Yuwang’s effort from close range in the 15th minute.
Having absorbed the early pressure, Vietnam created a great chance in the 24th minute, Khuat Van Khang forcing a brilliant save from Li Hao with his free-kick , with the China keeper then having to be at his best to keep out Nguyen Cong Phuong’s swiveling shot moments later.
Bao Shengxin wasted a golden opportunity to give China the lead in the closing stages of the half when he misjudged Yang Xi’s cross into the box.
Vietnam sent on Dinh Bac at the start of the second half but it was China who nearly went ahead when Xiang Yuwang’s pressure inside the box almost led to an own goal, with Tran forced to tip Pham Ly Duc’s header over the bar.
The ensuing corner, however, saw China PR taking the lead as Peng Xiao recovered from being jostled to the ground to nod the ball home past a rooted Vietnam defence.
Boosted by the goal, China went in search of a second, with Kuai Jiwen pulling his effort wide of the left post three minutes later.
The second, however, did arrive in the 52nd minute with Xiang Yuwang showing composure at the top of the box to control Kuai Jiwen’s pass before wrong-footing three defenders to tuck the ball home into the bottom right corner.
China thought they had scored their third in the 73rd minute through Peng Xiao’s deflected effort, only for the goal to be overturned by a VAR review for offside but there was no respite for Vietnam as Pham Ly Duc received a straight red in the aftermath of the disallowed goal.
To their credit, Vietnam kept pushing but it was China who scored again in the eighth minute of added time through Wang Yudong to advance to the final against Japan in style.
