U23 China secured a convincing 3-0 win against U23 Vietnam in the U23 Asia semifinal on the evening of 20/1 at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Following the match, 19-year-old striker Wang Yudong, who sealed the victory with the final goal, expressed the team's unwavering confidence. "We knew beforehand, because the whole team always believed we could win against Vietnam", he stated.

Wang's goal came in second-half injury time, a decisive tap-in that ignited celebrations. He removed his shirt in jubilation, a moment that resonated across the stadium and Chinese social media. Although he received a yellow card for the celebration, it will not impact his availability for the final due to the tournament's card clearance rules.

Wang Yudong (number 10) after taking off his shirt to celebrate his goal against Vietnam in the U23 Asia semifinal at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of 20/1. *Photo: AFC*

The decision to bench Wang, considered China's "maestro" and valued at 1.8 million USD by Transfermarkt, initially surprised many. However, it proved to be a strategic move by the coaching staff. China started with a physically strong lineup, dominating the midfield and establishing an early two-goal advantage in the second half. Wang was then introduced to capitalize on the increasing space and Vietnam's fading momentum.

Reflecting on his role, Wang admitted feeling "psychological pressure, because I had to participate too much in defensive duties, unable to attack." In the previous four matches, China primarily adopted a defensive counter-attacking approach, limiting scoring opportunities. In contrast, coach Antonio Puche's squad launched relentless attacks against Vietnam, especially after leading by two goals. Playing with a man advantage in the final minutes following Pham Ly Duc's red card, China created more dangerous situations.

When asked about his exuberant celebration, Wang explained, "When I scored, I felt a psychological release. All the pent-up emotions seemed to be unleashed."

Looking ahead to the final against Japan on the evening of 24/1, Wang expressed unwavering confidence. He affirmed that the team would prepare seriously and did not fear any opponent. "My goal is to bring the championship back to China", he emphasized.

Other key players also contributed to the victory. Striker Xiang Yuwang, who started in place of Wang, scored the goal that extended China's lead to 2-0. "My goal helped the whole team play more comfortably", Xiang said. "The victory against Vietnam is like a dream, truly unbelievable. We will play against Japan without any pressure."

Center-back Peng Xiao received the man of the match award for scoring the opening goal, despite having another disallowed by VAR. "This victory is fully deserved", Peng stated. "I'm disappointed I couldn't score a brace, but the team's achievement is what's important. I will try to score again in the final."

Compiled by Hoang An.