Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: A Tang Shi goal two minutes from time put China through into the AFC U-19 Championship quarter-finals in dramatic fashion as Group C runners-up, rescuing a 1-1 draw with Vietnam at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium on Monday, as reigning champions Korea Republic crashed out following their 2-1 defeat to Japan in Nay Pyi Taw.
For much of the game it seemed as if Vietnam would deny China the point they needed to advance into the knockout stages, after the Southeast Asians opened the scoring through Hoang Thanh Tung in the 20th minute.
But under pressure of elimination, China staged a late comeback with Tang leveling the score in the dying embers of the game. With Japan getting the win they needed over Korea to win Group C, China finished a point behind their East Asian rivals and will now face the Group D winners in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
"It took us 20 minutes to get used to the pitch, it wasn't as flat as we'd have liked and that slowed down the game," said China coach Zheng Xiong.
"But in the second half we made some good opportunities and in the 88th minute we scored, so I'm very proud of my players."
Despite Vietnam's elimination from the tournament, they started the game brightly, creating several half chances in the opening minutes, particularly through striker Nguyen Van Toan.
But it was China who in the 16th minute was the first to hit the target, Zhang Xiuwei unleashing a powerful strike from outside the semi-circle and forcing Vietnam keeper Phi Minh Long to fly to his right and punch the ball wide of the post for a corner.
The deadlock wasn't left unbroken for long, when in the 20th minute, Thanh Tung worked with Le Van Son to find himself in close range and on the right hand side of goal he slipped the ball in at the near post.
Vietnam had several chances to make it two, including eight minutes later, when a long ball found Van Toan; the only Vietnam player in China's half.
Van Toan, playing alone, ran into a similar position to that of the first goal and poked the ball with the outside of his boot; he beat Zhou but the ball clattered into the woodwork.
China could have found themselves back on terms in the final moments of the first half when Cheng Jin was left unmarked at the top of the box and finding himself with the ball, curled it around the keeper only for the ball to strike the outside of the post.
Not wanting to rely on results elsewhere China looked to open up in attack and created a number of opportunities, but in doing so they provided Vietnam with a number of chances to put the game beyond reach.
And it took until the final minutes of the game for China to finally find their way back into the tie and secure qualification. Second half substitute Lyu Pin charged into Vietnam's box and slid the ball through to Tang on his right, who unleashed a powerful kick from close range, playing the ball across the keeper and hitting the far side of the net.
"I'm very happy today about our performance but also I'm sad about the result, we played well and made opportunities we didn't take, which means the opposition can always come back," said Vietnamese coach Guillaume Graechen, who had also seen points snatched away from his side in their Matchday Two game as Japan scored two late goals.
"If only the game were only 80 minutes long; probably for my players they are not getting enough regular competition, they need to develop power and game stamina."