China, one of the four Asian powerhouses alongside Japan, South Korea, and North Korea, stands at a completely different level compared to most other teams in the region. Their historical dominance over Uzbekistan is clear: in their last 5 encounters, China secured victories in all matches, scoring 24 goals without conceding any. At ASIAD 2026, coach Anthony Milicic's team showcased their strength in the opening match with a 5-1 win over Hong Kong, while Uzbekistan had drawn 1-1 with the Philippines.

China (in red) drew Uzbekistan 1-1 in the second match of Group G women's football at ASIAD 2026, at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, Japan on 17/9/2026. Photo: Xinhua News Agency

During the match at Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium, coach Milicic made 8 changes to the lineup from the opening game, notably benching Wang Shuang, who had contributed two goals and two assists in the tournament. Despite these changes, the 16th-ranked FIFA team dominated possession and chances against an opponent ranked 35 places lower. However, despite their control, China unexpectedly conceded a goal in the 42nd minute from a rare attack by the Central Asian team. Lyudmila Karachik delivered a corner kick into the penalty area, and Kholida Dadaboeva headed it in to open the scoring.

In the second half, Wang Shuang entered the field, immediately revitalizing China's attack. In the 71st minute, Wang Yanwen delivered a precise corner kick that Zhang Linyan headed into the net, leveling the score at 1-1. Just two minutes later, China nearly completed a comeback, but Shuang's powerful long-range shot struck the crossbar. China continued to exert pressure for the remainder of the match, registering 6 additional shots, but could not find another goal. Overall, China maintained 62% possession and had 24 shots compared to Uzbekistan's 5.

Coach Milicic expressed his disappointment after the match, stating, "I am disappointed not to win even though the players created enough chances to score. Disappointing is the most accurate description of this match". He clarified that squad rotation was not the reason for the result. According to Milicic, the team had only two days of rest, necessitating the use of the fittest players, while also aiming to provide international playing experience to more squad members.

Following the draw, China still leads Group G with four points, while Uzbekistan is in second place with two points. The Philippines, with one point, has played one less match and is scheduled to face Hong Kong at 17h today (Hanoi time). China's next and final group stage match will be against the Philippines on 21/9.

The women's football tournament at ASIAD 2026 features 12 national teams, divided into three groups. Teams compete in a single round-robin format, with the three group winners, three group runners-up, and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

Since women's football was introduced at ASIAD in 1990, China has consistently been a strong contender, only missing the semifinals once, in 2014. They have reached the final five times, securing gold medals in 1990, 1994, and 1998. In the most recent edition, which they hosted, China earned the bronze medal.

Hieu Luong