In the final round of Group B matches at the U17 Asian Cup on May 13, the Chinese men’s U17 national team secured a 2-0 victory over Qatar, while Japan defeated Indonesia 3-1. As a result, Japan and China advanced to the knockout stage of the quarterfinals and also earned spots in the upcoming U17 World Cup, marking a historic return for China to the global stage after a 21-year absence.
Heading into the final matchday, Japan led Group B with two wins (6 points) and had already secured a spot in the next round. Qatar and Indonesia each had three points from one win and one loss, while China was at the bottom with zero points after two consecutive losses. China’s only path to survival was to beat Qatar by at least two goals.
China started the match with an attacking lineup, pressing hard against Qatar. In the first half, they dominated with 13 shots, five on target. The breakthrough came from a curling shot by He Sifan, giving China a 1-0 lead. In the second half, Zhang Bailin scored a header in the 79th minute to double the lead, securing the 2-0 win.
Meanwhile, Japan faced Indonesia in a separate match. Japan, already qualified, aimed to secure top spot, while Indonesia needed a win to guarantee progression. Japan dominated from the start, with Tsuyoshi Tsunekiyoshi opening the scoring in the 28th minute. Takeshi Wada extended the lead in the 59th minute, and Indonesia pulled one back through Perez in the 70th minute. However, Japan quickly restored their two-goal advantage via Shinta Okamoto, finishing 3-1.
After the results, the final Group B standings showed Japan first with 9 points, while China, Qatar, and Indonesia all ended with 3 points. With all three teams tied on points, goal difference in matches between them decided the rankings: China had a +1 goal difference, Qatar had 0, and Indonesia had -1. This meant China finished second in the group, advancing to the quarterfinals and qualifying for the U17 World Cup for the first time since 2005.
Key match details:
China’s starting lineup: Qin Ziniu, Jin Yucheng, Nan Zixun, Li Junpeng, Zhang Xuyao, Zhou Yunuo, He Sifan, Pan Chaowei, Shuai Weihao, Zhao Songyuan, Wan Xiang.