China's U-20s Triumph, Aim for Asian Cup Glory and World Cup Berth

China's U-20 Football Team Triumphs in Pre-Asian Cup Match

The Chinese national under-20 football team secured a 3-1 victory against Syria on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten streak to five games. This win served as the final tune-up before the AFC U-20 Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, China, from February 12 to March 1.

Kuai Jiwen, Wang Yudong, and Du Yuezheng each scored goals for China in the closed-door match. This tournament marks China's second time hosting the AFC U-20 Asian Cup, the first being in 2010.

The top four teams of the 2025 Asian Cup will automatically qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. China's U-20 team has been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Kyrgyzstan, and Qatar. Their first match will be against Qatar on February 12, followed by Kyrgyzstan on February 15 and Australia on February 18.

Tickets for the tournament went on sale on Wednesday. Head coach of the Chinese men's senior national football team, Branko Ivankovic, views the U-20 Asian Cup as a valuable opportunity to scout young talent for the senior team. The performances of the U-20 players in this tournament may influence their chances of being selected for the national team, as Ivankovic aims to accelerate the rejuvenation process.

"The friendly on Wednesday is a crucial rehearsal ahead of the U20 Asian Cup, as it is a practical test of the Chinese team's strength and fighting spirit," said Beijing-based sports commentator Zhang Bin.

Led by Serbian coach Dejan Durdevic, the Chinese under-20 team has demonstrated mixed results in warm-up matches during their overseas training campaign. In a remarkable comeback against the Uzbekistan under-20 team, Liu Chengyu and Wang scored two goals in the last three minutes, securing a 2-2 draw. This comeback not only boosted the team's morale but also showcased their tenacity.

Liu Chengyu, a promising young player from Shanghai Shenhua, is expected to follow in the footsteps of veteran and Chinese Super League top scorer Wu Lei. The home AFC U20 Asian Cup provides an excellent platform for the Chinese U-20 national team to showcase their skills and training成果.

"Competing against other outstanding teams from across Asia will help evaluate the effectiveness of China's youth football player cultivation," Zhang said. "This will enable the discovery of areas for improvement, which can then be promptly addressed, thus guiding the further development of youth football training in China."

In separate news, the Chinese women's under-17 national team defeated their Japanese counterparts with a 1-0 win. The team, led by coach Wang Hongliang, has achieved three wins and two draws in five games since starting their training session in Japan on January 22.