China 4 - 2 Liechtenstein (251731439)

Overcast weather free of rain made for a crowd turnout of 16000 at Emirates Stadium today. Paul Fischereihafen was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Michael Lennox and Kåre Andersen. The match took place on neutral ground. U-20 China started off with a 5-3-2 lineup. The following players took the field: 瑞凡 (Ruifan) - 宝明 (Baoming), 儒英 (Ruying) , 天智 (Tianzhi) , 恩力 (Enli) , 安光 (Anguang) - 涌番 (Yongfan) , 子泰 (Zitai), 云迪 (Yundi) - 祖宏 (Zuhong), 如敏 (Rumin).

U-20 Liechtenstein had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. They fielded: Hasler - Althammer, Knechtli, Kindle - Fuchs, Weghorn, Real, Robart, Vorburger - Marock, Telser.

U-20 China were relying on their ability to counter-attack. With 12 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 - 0 lead as 钱. 祖宏 (Zuhong) flipped the ball in after a cross from the right. U-20 China's 钱. 祖宏 (Zuhong) got himself booked for a foul. After 16 minutes, there was a bit of a mixup on the field as U-20 China found themselves out of position and their organisation level dropped to solid. U-20 China caught their opponents out with a clever counterattack down the right wing 30 minutes into the match. 熊. 如敏 (Rumin) was able to finish off the move - 2 - 0. The players of U-20 China now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. 33 minutes in, U-20 China appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only passable. 霍. 瑞凡 (Ruifan) made a brilliant save 40 minutes into the match, blocking a rocket of a shot from J. Fuchs on the right hand side. U-20 China's counterattacks were lethal to the opposing defence, allowing 钱. 祖宏 (Zuhong) to score easily from the right flank for 3 - 0. After 43 minutes 展. 涌番 (Yongfan) made a speedy advance and dropped the ball to 钱. 祖宏 (Zuhong) who shuffled it past the keeper. The score was now 4 - 0. That made three goals for 钱. 祖宏 (Zuhong) and he was marked down for the hat trick. U-20 Liechtenstein kept trying to force their way through on the right side and E. Marock got his chance after 44 minutes, but the home side's defence held their position and stopped the attack. 4 - 0 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to U-20 Liechtenstein, who controlled the ball 67 percent of the time.

The coach gave his players an extra tactical briefing during the break, and after that U-20 China had solid organisation. U-20 China's counterattacks created a good chance for 岳. 子泰 (Zitai) on the right after 55 minutes, but he could only look on with dismay as his strike rebounded off the crossbar. The home crowd was silenced as A. Robart took a successful penalty shot 58 minutes into the game, reducing the home lead to 4 - 1. After 60 minutes, U-20 Liechtenstein used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. With 62 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock, U-20 Liechtenstein showed some good skill and were able to reduce the score to 4 - 2 when K. Real got past the home side's central defenders right in front of the goal. 69 minutes into the game, U-20 China seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to solid. The U-20 Liechtenstein players listened closely to their manager, as he gave new tactical instructions for the team. The U-20 Liechtenstein coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. U-20 Liechtenstein needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 80 minutes K. Real made way for X. Weibel. With 85 minutes played, the U-20 Liechtenstein coach decided a substitution may help turn the game around. R. Brinkhoff came on, J. Fuchs had to leave the fray. U-20 Liechtenstein had most of the ball, with 62 percent of possession.

U-20 China's top performer was clearly 熊. 如敏 (Rumin) . However, 司. 安光 (Anguang) made a disastrous appearance. U-20 Liechtenstein's best player was E. Marock. E. Weghorn on the other hand, had a terrible day. The match ends 4 - 2.