In the recently concluded final of the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, the Chinese team, which reached the final for the first time, lost 0-4 to the defending champions Japan. They secured the runner-up position, achieving the best historical result for the team in this tournament.
At the start of the match, the Chinese team displayed great effort, and the game was fairly even. However, in the 12th minute, due to poor marking in the penalty area, a shot from Ozeki deflected off a defender and went into the net. This was the first goal conceded by China in this tournament.
In the 20th minute, Japan pressurized the front line, and Ogura intercepted the ball and scored a powerful shot, changing the score to 2-0.
In the 57th minute, after a cross from the opponent's flank, the referee penalized Liu Haofan for a handball in the penalty area. VAR intervened and confirmed the penalty, which was then converted by Sato, making it 0-3 for the U23 national team.
In the 75th minute, Japan scored again, leading to a 0-4 deficit for the U23 national team. After conceding the goal, Li Hao sat on the ground shaking his head in disappointment.
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