On the evening of September 8, the 2023 East Asian Football Federation U15 Boys Football Championship was held in Qingdao. In the final, China's U15 national junior team drew with Japan's U15 national junior team 0-0 in regular time, and won 4-2 on penalties to win the championship! This Chinese team's main right back #2 Han Yiheng is a native of Dongtou, Wenzhou!
Finalists
The final started at 7pm on the 8th. In China's starting lineup, Evergrande Soccer School had as many as 9 players, among which Han Yiheng was one of them. In the first half, Han Yiheng defended well and didn't give the Japanese players too many chances. He also had several assists in front of the field, but the attacking chances were not very good, and both sides handed in a blank sheet. In the second half, both sides remained deadlocked, and China missed a few scoring opportunities. Although each had its own offense and defense, neither was able to break through the opponent's door. In the end, the Chinese and Japanese teams drew 0-0 in 90 minutes of regulation time. In the penalty shootout, China took the first penalty. Although the first time out, Li Xiang was pounced on, China's was played 2 goals, but China's ball.
The tournament was organized by the East Asian Football Confederation (EAFC) and featured U15 boys' soccer teams from nine countries and regions of the EAFC. The tournament was divided into two stages: group stage and knockout stage. Teams from five countries or regions, including China and South Korea, Macau, China, Mongolia and the Northern Mariana Islands, were assigned to Group A. The top two teams from the group stage advanced to the semifinals.
Previous Match Chart
China defeated Macau, China, 13-0 in the first match of the group stage on September 1; on September 3, China defeated Mongolia, 6-0, with right back Han Yiheng scoring in the 89th minute of the match; on September 4, China went on a 23-goal offensive spree against the underdog Northern Mariana Islands; on September 5, China drew with South Korea, 1-1, to win the first place in the group and advance to the semifinals, with South Korea in second place in the group.On September 7, the In the semifinals, China defeated Chinese Taipei 5-0 to reach the final. In the four matches, China scored 48 goals and conceded only one. As Japan beat Japan 4-0, China won by 20.
Han Yiheng was born on January 9, 2008, a native of Yuanjue, Dongtou. Han grew up with his parents in Tongling, Anhui province, where he started playing soccer in the third grade of the Tongling Aiguo Primary School in 2016, and was selected for the Evergrande Soccer School in September 2017.At the age of 9, he started practicing soccer in Guangzhou, far away from his parents. He played center back, striker and right forward. This time, he was selected as the right back of the U15 national junior team.
Winning trophies for Evergrande Soccer School in his youth
Since 2019, Evergrande Soccer School has participated in various tournaments, won several championships, and won the best player and top scorer awards several times. Currently, Han Yiheng is 1.78 meters tall and weighs 73 kilograms. He is very hard and serious in his usual training and games, with a stable backfield defense and the ability to quickly insert bottom passes, winning the favor and trust of Evergrande Soccer School and the coaching staff of the U15 National Junior Team.
Han Yiheng's father, Han Xin, told reporters that in recent years, his son has been on the road of soccer self-discipline, self-improvement and diligent training. In addition, the scientific training, management and careful training of the Evergrande Football School coaching staff gradually stabilized the team's starting position. "His selection for the national junior team is just a beginning, and there is still a long way to go in the future. As parents, we will definitely support our children to realize their dreams. I hope he can create some career in soccer, for Wenzhou to win the glory. After all, wherever we go, we will always be Wenzhou people." He said.
In an interview with reporters after the game, Han Yiheng said that he will continue to work hard in the future to play in the professional league as soon as possible and enter the adult national team to fight for his country.
