Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jiangsu: Host nation China secured a resounding 7-0 win over Macau on Sunday to go top of the Group I AFC U-19 Championship 2016 qualifying standings, while DPR Korea edged Malaysia 1-0 to seal their second successive victory and stay hot on the heels of the host nation.
China, who beat Malaysia 6-0 in their group opener, went ahead in the 12th minute when Gao Huaze netted, an advantage that was stretched even further before half-time courtesy of a second Gao strike and Yang Liyu’s 25th minute effort.
Midfielder Yan Dinghao notched China’s fourth on 51 minutes ahead of two goals in two minutes from substitute Zhang Yuning.
Shan Huanhuan duly completed the scoring with his side’s seventh five minutes from time.
In the day’s earlier game Han Il-hyok’s fifth strike in two games helped DPR Korea remain second behind China.
Following a goalless first half, Han, who bagged four during his country’s 6-0 thumping of Macau on Friday, found the net in the 54th minute to register the game’s only goal and hand Ri Song-ho’s charges another priceless three-point haul.
In Tuesday’s final group games, Malaysia will face Macau, while China will entertain DPR Korea in what will be a fight for top spot.
Ten group winners and five best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals while hosts Bahrain received an automatic qualification (total 16 teams).
If Bahrain finish top of their qualifying group or one of the five second best-placed teams, the next (6th) second-placed team will qualify for the final competition.