China U22 beat South Korea 2-0, giving Vietnam a strong chance of winning the championship.
A brace from Baihelamu Abuduwaily helped China U22 win 2-0 against South Korea U22, bringing the Panda Cup 2025 to a tie: all four teams have 3 points; goal difference +1, 0, 0, -1.
China U22 defeated South Korea U22 2-0 at the Panda Cup 2025 thanks to a brace from Baihelamu Abuduwaily in the 72nd and 81st minutes. This result leveled the standings, with all four teams having 3 points; China U22 temporarily leads with a goal difference of +1, followed by South Korea U22 (+0), Vietnam U22 (+0), and Uzbekistan (-1). Therefore, Vietnam U22 still has a chance to compete for the championship in the final matchday.
Two decisive moments for Abuduwaily
The deadlock was broken in the 72nd minute: from a precise pass by captain Liu Haofan, Abuduwaily cleverly controlled the ball and fired a diagonal shot to open the scoring. In the 81st minute, a defensive error by the visiting team created an opportunity for Chen Zeshi to intercept the ball and provide an assist; Abuduwaily then scored with a delicate backheel to make it 2-0. These two plays perfectly showcased Abuduwaily's qualities as a center forward: good positioning, effective use of his body, and clean finishing from within the penalty area.
The first half was tense, with chances evenly distributed.
High tempo was evident right from the opening whistle. In the 2nd minute, Abuduwaily put the ball in a dangerous position but was ruled offside. In the 7th minute, Wang Bohao skillfully dribbled down the right flank and crossed to Li Zhenquan, but his shot lacked power and was saved by goalkeeper Moon Hyunho. South Korea U22 responded in the 11th minute with a dangerous long-range shot from Jung Seuhgbae, but Li Hao made a good save.
China U22 continuously put pressure on South Korea from set pieces: in the 20th minute, they were awarded a free kick on the right after Jang Seokhwan handled the ball; in the 21st minute, from a cross by Liu Haofan, Jeong Jaesang headed the ball away, almost scoring an own goal. In the 35th minute, Mutalifu Yimingkari's powerful header lacked the necessary power to beat Moon Hyunho. Towards the end of the half, in the 45th minute, Wang Bohao received a yellow card for a foul, and in the 45+1 minute, a careless back pass from Xu Bin created a clear opportunity for Kim Yonghak, but the South Korean number 19 pushed the ball too far.
Controversy and disallowed goals
In the second half, the South Korean U22 team had a great opportunity in the 57th minute when Jung Seungbae took a shot from a favorable position, but it was too weak. Just a minute later, Li Zhenquan put the ball into the visitors' net, but the linesman ruled Abuduwaily offside, resulting in the goal being disallowed in the 58th minute. In the 70th minute, Kang Minjun dribbled skillfully inside the penalty area and fell after a challenge, but the referee refused to award a penalty.
Tactics viewed from key situations.
The match was characterized by a high tempo and quick transitions. China U22 exploited the right flank and the center effectively: Liu Haofan's crosses (72nd minute) and two-ball challenges just outside the penalty area created clear scoring opportunities. Abuduwaily's role as the target striker stood out with his ability to shield the ball, turn in tight spaces, and finish with a one-touch shot (81st goal).
South Korea U22 created chances from long-range shots (11th minute) and high-pressure pressing, forcing the home team's defense to make mistakes (45+1 minute). Towards the end of the match, they pushed forward to try and score a goal, but their attacks only resulted in opportunities.
The Panda Cup 2025 standings before the final round.
The victory puts all four teams tied with 3 points, making the final round unpredictable. Current goal difference according to source:
| Team | Difference | Point |
|---|---|---|
| China U22 | +1 | 3 |
| U22 South Korea | +0 | 3 |
| Vietnam U22 | +0 | 3 |
| Uzbekistan | -1 | 3 |
Given this context, the Vietnam U22 team still has a chance to compete for the championship if they make good use of the final matchday.
Featured timeline
- 2': Abuduwaily was offside, missing an early opportunity for China U22.
- 7': Wang Bohao crosses the ball, Li Zhenquan takes a shot but Moon Hyunho makes the save.
- 11': Jung Seuhgbae takes a dangerous long-range shot, but Li Hao makes a save.
- 20'-21': China U22 puts pressure from a set piece; Jeong Jaesang nearly scores an own goal.
- 35': Mutalifu Yimingkari's header was dangerous, but the ball wasn't powerful enough.
- 45': Wang Bohao receives a yellow card; 45+1': Kim Yonghak misses a chance after a mistake by Xu Bin.
- 57': Jung Seungbae's shot was too weak despite being in a favorable position.
- 58': Li Zhenquan's goal was disallowed because Abuduwaily was offside earlier.
- 70': A controversial incident occurred when Kang Minjun fell in the penalty area, but the referee did not award a penalty.
- 72': 1-0 for China U22, Abuduwaily scores with a diagonal shot from a cross by Liu Haofan.
- 81': 2-0, Abuduwaily scores with a backheel after an assist from Chen Zeshi.
- In the final minutes, the South Korea U22 team pushed forward but failed to score.
