The U20 national football team played a friendly match against Thailand U20, ending in a 1-1 draw. The first half saw both teams scoreless, with a somewhat dull atmosphere. In the 31st minute of the second half, Thailand broke the deadlock with a stunning shot that skimmed the crossbar and flew into the net, putting U20 China behind 0-1. At a critical moment, Chen Shihan stepped up, scoring from long range at the top of the penalty arc to level the score. Neither side was able to change the scoreline thereafter, and the 1-1 result held until the final whistle.
For this match, the starting lineup for U20 China included goalkeeper Liu Qiwei, defenders He Yiran, Peng Xiao, Shi Songchen, Yang Xi, midfielders Zhang Zhixiong, Chen Zeshi, Wang Yudong, Kuai Jiwen, Mao Weijie, and forward Liu Chengyu. It is worth noting that in a previous friendly match, U20 China lost 1-4 to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, indicating less-than-ideal form.
The performance of U20 China in this game can be described as a mixed bag. On the positive side, the team did not collapse when trailing, and Chen Shihan's long-range shot showcased the individual abilities of the players. However, throughout the match, U20 China's offensive organization appeared disorganized, with insufficient midfield control, and the absence of Yimulan clearly hindered the team's flow.
From the perspective of the players themselves, Chen Shihan's goal was the highlight of the game, with his long-range shot from the top of the penalty arc helping the team equalize. As one of the core midfielders for U20 China, Chen Shihan's performance is commendable. However, aside from this goal, the overall offense of U20 China lacked threat, with poor coordination between forward Liu Chengyu and the midfield players, resulting in low offensive efficiency.
Looking at external factors, the strength of Thailand U20 cannot be underestimated. Their technical finesse and smooth cooperation, especially that world-class shot, demonstrated the individual skills and team cohesion of their players. In contrast, while U20 China's defense was generally stable, lapses in concentration at key moments allowed the opponents opportunities.
The absence of Yimulan had an obvious impact on U20 China. As the midfield engine of the team, Yimulan's ball control, passing, and defensive capabilities are indispensable. Without him on the field, U20 China's midfield appeared chaotic and disordered, lacking rhythm in attack and protection in defense. This match once again highlighted to fans the importance of Yimulan to U20 China, which goes without saying.
After the game, fans had mixed reactions to the performance of U20 China. Some commented, "Chen Shihan's goal was beautiful, but the team's overall performance was still lacking." Others bluntly stated, "Without Yimulan, the midfield was completely out of control; now we see how important he is!" There were also fans joking, "U20 China needs to play more high-quality friendlies like this, or they'll be even more clueless in official matches."
What do the fans think of this game? Welcome to leave your comments and join the discussion!