DOHA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- In the first round of Group B of the 2024 Qatar U23 Men's Asian Cup on the 16th, the Chinese Olympic team still lost 0:1 to the Japanese team despite playing one more player for most of the time.
Japan took an early lead in the eighth minute, when Kaede Yamada crossed from the right, the Chinese team's defense in the penalty area leaked, and Matsuki Jiusheng easily pushed the goal unmarked.
In the 17th minute, the situation on the field changed abruptly, Takashi Nishio elbowed Jia Feifei, and the referee checked the video and sent him off with a red card. The 10-man Japanese team was forced to change their strategy and switch to defensive counter-attacks.
The numerical advantage of the Chinese team had a couple of good chances, but Tao Qianglong hit the post with a long-range shot in the 38th minute, and Xie Wenneng's one-handed shot was saved by the Japanese goalkeeper in the 46th minute.
At the end of the second half, the head coach of the Chinese team, Cheng Yaodong, sent the 2-meter-tall substitute goalkeeper Jin Yong on the field as the center forward, but the Chinese team's golf tactics did not play a role and ultimately lost.
A total of 16 teams participated in this year's U23 Asian Cup, and the Chinese team was divided into the "Group of Death" where Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates were played. The top three finishers will qualify for Paris 2024, while the fourth-placed teams will compete in a play-off against non-football teams for a place at the Games.
On the 19th, the Chinese team will face the second opponent of the group stage, the South Korean team.