The third-place match in the men's football event at the 20th Asian Games started at a high pace. China's U23 team made an early impact in the 15th minute when Hu He Tao capitalized on a well-placed pass from a teammate inside the Uzbekistan penalty area, curling a right-footed shot to open the scoring.
The goal boosted the confidence of the young Chinese players, but also forced Uzbekistan to push their lines higher in search of an equalizer. The Central Asian team continuously pressured Uzbekistan for the remainder of the first half. Chinese U23 goalkeeper Li Hao made at least two excellent saves against dangerous shots from the opponent, while a goal by Abdurakhmonov in the 17th minute was disallowed for offside.
But then, Uzbekistan's pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute. After a triangular passing combination on the right wing, the ball was threaded through to Bakhromov, who penetrated the penalty area. The midfielder unleashed a precise one-touch shot, bringing the game back to a tie.
While their opponents demonstrated strong pressing capabilities, the Chinese U23 team responded with the confidence of their young players. The equalizer did not change the playing style of coach Antonio Puche's players. They continued to play defensively and waited for opportunities to launch counter-attacks thanks to their quick transitions.
This tactic proved effective. In the 53rd minute, following a midfield transition, Wang Yudong received the ball on the left wing, evaded the pressure from the Uzbekistan defense, and unleashed a curling right-footed shot from outside the penalty area. The ball went into the far corner, giving goalkeeper Muratbaev no chance to save it.
Wang Yudong's goal once again put China U23 ahead. More importantly, it showed the confidence of the team under coach Antonio Puche, which helped China make history at the U23 Asian Championship earlier this year and advance deep into the 20th Asian Games.
But Uzbekistan didn't give up. In the final minutes, the Central Asian team threw everything they had at finding an equalizer. In the 88th minute, the Chinese defense had to clear the ball right on the goal line after a dangerous situation. Two minutes later, China's defense was broken. A long-range shot from Uzbekistan was pushed away by Li Hao, but Shodiboev immediately pounced on the rebound, putting the ball into the net and leveling the score at 2-2 in the 90th minute. The two teams therefore had to decide the medal winner through a penalty shootout, as the men's football format at the 20th Asian Games did not include extra time in the third-place match.
This scenario recalls the clash between the two teams in the quarter-finals of the U23 Asian Championship in January. Back then, China also overcame Uzbekistan on penalties with a 4-2 victory after 120 goalless minutes. Li Hao saved one penalty, contributing to China's first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the tournament.
This time, the Chinese goalkeeper was once again the decisive figure. Li Hao saved Uzbekistan's first two penalties, giving China U23 a significant advantage to win 4-3 in the shootout. Antonio Puche's team finished their Asiad 20 journey with a bronze medal and deservedly became one of the best teams in this year's tournament.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/u23-trung-quoc-danh-bai-uzbekistan-บน-cham-luan-luu-gianh-huy-chuong-dong-asiad-20-post1881917.tpo
