Can a 10-goal victory awaken the U22 Chinese national football team?

Reporter Lu Mi reports On the evening of the 6th, the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers went on as the China U22 men's team played against the weakest team in the group, the Northern Mariana Islands. After Australia’s earlier 6-0 win over Timor-Leste, they led the group with 6 points and a goal difference of 20 from two games. This put significant pressure on the China U22 team, who had only won 2-1 against Timor-Leste in their opener. Everyone knows that before the decisive match against Australia, the U22 team must accumulate a large goal difference against the Northern Mariana Islands; otherwise, if they lose to Australia, they might fail to qualify as one of the four best runners-up due to an inferior goal difference.

What no one expected was that against the amateur Northern Mariana Islands team, the U22 Chinese team showed two completely different performances in each half. In the first half, they had 21 shots with 7 on target but only scored during stoppage time; however, after Wang Yudong entered in the second half, the entire game changed dramatically. He created 5 goals, and Bai Helamu scored a hat-trick, helping the team to a 10-0 victory. From the other second-round group matches already finished, the China U22 currently holds a certain advantage in goal difference.

Compared to their debut match against Timor-Leste, U22 head coach Antonio made as many as seven changes, retaining only four players: forwards Xiang Yuwang and Bai Helamu, midfielder Kuai Jiwen, and defender Liu Haofan. As in the previous match, the team dominated from the start, with Bai Helamu shooting within the first minute, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.

It was expected to be the start of a scoring spree, but instead, the first half turned into a 45-minute struggle. The scoreboard at Xi’an International Football Center remained embarrassingly at 0-0 throughout the first half. Despite nearly 90% possession and 21 shots by the U22 team, the host side only broke the deadlock during stoppage time against the mostly amateur Northern Mariana Islands squad.

The match was one-sided, with the opponents pinned back in their defensive half, and even the penalty area turf was worn down by the Chinese attacks, yet the U22 team struggled to convert chances into goals. Xiang Yuwang’s one-on-one was saved by the goalkeeper, Zhu Pengyu’s long shot hit the post, and Kuai Jiwen’s dribbles and passes were repeatedly blocked by defenders. Although the Northern Mariana Islands lacked technical skill, their active running and tight defense repeatedly thwarted China’s attacks. The U22 team dominated physically and tactically, creating many chances but often failing to capitalize due to poor decision-making at critical moments.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 6th minute of first-half stoppage time. Kuai Jiwen’s shot after dribbling past three defenders was saved by the goalkeeper, but Bai Helamu followed up promptly to score, making it 1-0. This goal relieved the more than 30,000 home fans in Xi’an, but scoring only once in the half with uninspiring play was far from satisfactory.

The tactical changes at halftime marked the turning point. Coach Antonio brought on Wang Yudong to boost the attack. The substitution had an immediate effect, energizing China’s forward line. In the early second half, the U22 team scored twice in quick succession. Wang Yudong contributed two goals, three assists, and a stunning long-range strike, while Bai Helamu completed a hat-trick. Li Xinxiong, Zhu Pengyu, Kuai Jiwen, and Xiang Yuwang also found the net. The match ended with China winning 10-0.

After the match, Antonio said, “At halftime, we worked on building the players’ confidence. We had 8 to 10 chances in the first half and reinforced belief during the break. We made adjustments by removing a defensive midfielder and adding a forward. Wang Yudong played on the left, pressing high near the opponent’s goal, and I’m quite satisfied with the midfield decisions.”

Wang Yudong proved to be the decisive factor for Antonio in this match, demonstrating his value in a very short time. His positioning and passing accuracy surpassed players of the same age. Bai Helamu, who missed many chances in the first half, completed a hat-trick, and Xiang Yuwang, who had missed an open goal, finally scored thanks to Wang Yudong’s setup.

Why wasn’t Wang Yudong started in the first half? Antonio explained, “He had a minor injury, so we took care of him and gave him medical protection. After he came on, his performance was excellent in every aspect.”

Wang Yudong showcased his league-level ability and helped the U22 team achieve a resounding victory, but does this mean the U22 team has fully unlocked their potential? Why do so many players who impress in the league perform poorly here?

After narrowly winning 1-0 against Timor-Leste in the first round, the China U22 team has been under immense public pressure, causing them to “overexert” on many chances in the first half, resulting in many shots going high or wide. In this match, Wang Yudong helped the team regain their rhythm. But it’s not just Wang who needs to explode against Australia. How will Antonio address these issues?

On this point, Antonio stated, “Every match is different, and opponents have different characteristics. We have taken all three games seriously, focusing on building the players’ confidence. Starting tomorrow, we will prepare step by step for Australia. All data shows they are very strong. Our only task is to be well-prepared. We have experience playing strong teams before and will create difficulties for them. Our mindset is to challenge the opponent. Next, we will recover well, strengthen both body and mind, and get ready for the match against Australia.”