China’s U17 national team secured a dramatic 2-0 victory over Qatar in the early hours of May 13, booking their spot in the knockout stage of the AFC U17 Asian Cup. After three group matches, China finished second and progressed to the quarterfinals, a result that owed a debt to Japan’s disciplined performance in their final group match.
Heading into the final round, Japan had already sealed top spot with two wins, while Indonesia and Qatar each had one win and one defeat, and China were bottom with two losses. Many fans worried Japan might take it easy against Indonesia, but the Japanese side showed no mercy. They dominated the match with 14 shots and 6 on target, securing a 3-1 victory that left Indonesia on 1 win and 2 losses.
Meanwhile, China’s young squad delivered a crucial 2-0 win over Qatar. The final standings saw China, Qatar, and Indonesia all tied on 3 points from 1 win and 2 losses. However, China’s goal difference of 0, compared to Qatar’s -2 and Indonesia’s -3, propelled them into second place and into the knockout rounds.
In the next stage, China will face Saudi Arabia, while Japan takes on Kyrgyzstan. Notably, China has met Saudi Arabia in the last three U17 Asian Cups, losing both previous encounters in the group stage. The upcoming match on May 16 at 1:00 AM local time offers a chance to rewrite history.
