NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- China took the men's football bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, beating Uzbekistan 4-3 on penalties after the two sides drew 2-2 in regular time.
Goalkeeper Li Hao saved two penalties in the shootout before Peng Xiao converted the decisive spot kick.
The bronze marked China's first Asian Games medal in men's football in 28 years. It was also China's first medal in the event since the tournament adopted an under-23 format in 2002.
China lost 2-1 to South Korea in the semifinals, while Uzbekistan was beaten by Japan on penalties.
The match was the second meeting between China and Uzbekistan in a major continental tournament this year. In the quarterfinals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in January, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw after extra time before China prevailed on penalties, with Li making a crucial save.
China opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Hu Hetao carried the ball forward from the left before combining with Kuai Jiwen on a one-two and curling a first-time shot into the far corner.
Uzbekistan gradually increased the pressure on China's left flank and equalized in the 42nd minute. Sardorbek Bakhromov made a well-timed run into the box and fired a left-footed shot past Li.
China regained the lead in the 53rd minute through Wang Yudong. He collected the ball near the halfway line, had a solo run before unleashing a spectacular long-range strike from the edge of the penalty area.
China came close to extending its lead in the 61st minute when Zhang Yuning met Wang's lofted pass into the box and produced a delicate finish, only for the ball to hit the post.
China coach Antonio Puche then replaced Zhang and Wang with Xiang Yuwang and Behram Abduweli two minutes later as China dropped deeper to defend its lead.
Uzbekistan threw players forward and eventually found an equalizer in the 89th minute, when Shodiyor Shodiboev followed up to score after the initial effort was blocked.
Under the competition regulations, the bronze-medal match went directly to a penalty shootout after a draw in regular time.
Li saved Uzbekistan's first penalty, but Liu Haofan's effort was also stopped by the Uzbek goalkeeper. Both sides converted their second penalties before Li made another save in the third round.
Both teams scored their fourth and fifth penalties, leaving Peng with the chance to seal victory. He made no mistake to give China the win.
"It was a very difficult match for both teams. Uzbekistan fought until the last second, but we eventually won the medal that belongs to us," Puche said. "At this moment, I am the happiest coach in the world."
Puche also credited the team's regular practice of penalty shootouts for helping it handle the pressure. "Whenever an internal training match ends in a draw, we practice a penalty shootout," he said. ■
