On September 6th Beijing time, the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers went on as the second round of Group D matches concluded. The favorite Australia trounced East Timor 6-0, and China overwhelmed the extremely weak Northern Mariana Islands 10-0. Consequently, the updated group table shows Australia leading, China in second place, East Timor third, and Northern Mariana Islands stuck in last place!

Australia versus East Timor. Australia is a top-tier team with a formidable presence in Asia. In the first round of the group stage, they crushed Northern Mariana Islands 14-0 with ease, displaying powerful offense. In the second round, they faced East Timor, who had a close match with China in the first round, losing by just one goal. Given the huge gap in strength, Australia’s big win was expected, though the exact margin was uncertain. Australia maintained strong pressure upfront, their attackers relentlessly seeking chances, and goals came one after another. They ultimately defeated East Timor 6-0, securing a dominant second win and firmly holding first place with a staggering +20 goal difference after two games!

China versus Northern Mariana Islands. China narrowly won 2-1 against the weak East Timor in the first round, which disappointed fans who felt a one-goal victory over a weak team was insufficient. In the second round against an even weaker Northern Mariana Islands team, China needed a big win to boost their goal difference. Wang Yudong went on a rampage, continuously breaking through and creating chances, scoring and assisting. Thanks to his orchestration, China triumphed 10-0, delivering a crushing defeat and achieving two consecutive wins to sit second in the group!

Next, China will face their third opponent, Australia, in a battle for the top spot. The opponent is very strong, and it will be tough for China to win. Losing by a small margin would be acceptable, and if luck favors them, a draw might be possible. That would likely guarantee China advances as the best second-place team in the group. Of course, that might be unrealistic, so China must accept their position and fight hard. In a fierce contest, the brave prevail. Let’s wait and see!

Written by / Sports Novel