XI'AN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China's under-23 men's football team defeated Vietnam 1-0 on Tuesday to finish second at the 2026 International Youth Tournament in Xi'an.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea secured the title after beating Thailand 3-1 earlier in the day, edging China on goal difference. Both sides ended the tournament with one win and two draws.
China had an early chance to take the lead in the seventh minute, but Mao Weijie's long-range effort deflected off a defender and was comfortably saved by Vietnam goalkeeper Cao Van Binh.
The breakthrough came just before halftime, when Du Yuezheng broke the deadlock with a long-range lob that beat the Vietnamese goalkeeper.
China controlled the early stages of the second half and pushed to extend its lead, while Vietnam looked to respond on the counterattack.
Both teams created chances after the break. Nguyen Dang Duong missed a clear opportunity to equalize in the 71st minute when he was denied in a one-on-one by China defender Shi Songchen, who recovered to make a crucial tackle. Mutalifu Yimingkari fired wide from a low effort in the 80th minute as China sought a second goal.
"It is the best game we played at the tournament. Generally, I was satisfied with my players' performances. We competed in some competitive games and I observed some players here," said China head coach Antonio Puche Vincente.
"Our team will regroup and play some warm-up matches in June, then complete our final preparations for the Asian Games in September. I will continue to observe and discover good players across the country in the coming months," the Spaniard added. ■
