Episode 12 Korea-Japan World Cup Recap Series
You want to ask Chinese fans to look forward to 2002 the most? I'm afraid that year on June 4, 14 pm. : At the World Cup Stadium in Gwangju, South Korea, Chinese soccer had a historic moment when we stood on the World Cup stage for the first time.
In this match, Milu's starting lineup was Jiang Jin, Xu Yunlong, Li Weifeng, Fan Zhiyi, Wu Chengying, Sun Jihai, Li Tie, Li Xiaopeng, Ma Mingyu, a certain gun (sensitive word) and Yang Chen.
Costa Rica, as China's first opponent, is undoubtedly the weakest of the three teams in the same group. Milo also coached the team at the 1990 World Cup, and the team's coach, Guimarães, is a disciple of Milo. If China wants to write World Cup history, this opponent seems more than suitable.
Starting lineups in the areas of Lonis, Marin, Wright, Martinez, Wallace, Centeno, Solis, Castro, Fonseca, Wanchope, and Gomez.
With the whistle of Greek referee Kiros, this match officially started. In the second minute of the match, China's offense came. Sun Jihai's breakthrough on the right caused Castro to be fouled, and China was given a chance to take a free kick. Unfortunately, Li Xiaopeng's free kick was headed away by his brother's player and failed to pose a threat.
Costa Rica's offense was coming soon, too. First, in the fifth minute of the game, Martinez's soft long range shot was easily won by Jiangjin. Then Wanchope took a marginal ball from Castro, but there was no taker. In the 13th minute of the match, Costa Rica's long counterattack was first destroyed by Li Weifeng.
In contrast, a few waves of China's offense seemed to work better. In the 15th minute of the game, Marin was yellow-carded for a defensive foul. Two minutes later, China's right attack started again. Facing Sun Jihai's breakthrough, Solis shoveled him down from the side and back without saying a word. A yellow card was inevitable, but Sun Jihai didn't seem optimistic about getting injured for the foul.
Li Xiaopeng then took the free kick, which resulted in Li Weifeng falling down on his back in the penalty area as he fought for the ball, so the game was briefly stopped, but fortunately it was not a big problem.
In the 20th minute of the match, Yang Chen rushed to Martinez on the left side of the box before falling to the ground and hooking the ball back in. Unfortunately, Marin kicked the ball off the line just in time to prevent China from forming a threatening offense.
A minute later, Li Tie was cut off by Solis on the right. After getting the ball, the latter quickly burst into the penalty area to finish the shot. Luckily, Jiang Jin showed bravery and settled the danger by blocking the angle with his body.
In the 26th minute of the match, the previously injured Sun Jihai could no longer hold on to the game and Milo had to replace him with Qu Bo.
Costa Rica's offense increased significantly with the fate of Sun Jihai, who lifted the biggest threat. In the 29th minute of the match, Wallace crossed a diagonal pass from the right to the box, where Fan and Xu Yunlong took off from the Wanchope box to finish off a header. Fortunately, they missed the target.
It wasn't without good chances for China. In the 40th minute of the match, Costa Rica's free kick was blocked and China took advantage of the counterattack. Yang Chen brought the ball to the penalty line and then started shooting. But his low right-footed shot didn't play with power, so Lonis got the ball easily. Both sides could only bring 0.:0 points into the halftime break.
The match resumed with no substitutions from either side. In the 48th minute of the game, Castro took a left-footed shot from 25 meters away from the left side of the field. Although the ball did not hit the goal frame, the second half of the offensive prelude between the two teams had begun.
In the 54th minute of the game, China's right attack rose again, Xu Yunlong started the ball into the penalty area, unfortunately Yang Chen did not top the ball in the center of Yang Chen's penalty area.
A minute later, China's offense started again with a cross from the bottom left by Wu Cheng Ying. Unfortunately, there was no one in the center to follow it up. Although Yang Chen shot from the right side of the box, it was a dazzlingly accurate shot.
Costa Rica was the first to change its lineup in the 58th minute of the match, with veteran Medford replacing Fonseca, and Costa Rica's offense began to get more and more intense. In the 60th minute of the match, Wanchop greeted a teammate's pass in the box, but fell to the ground after interference from Wu Chengying. Luckily for him, the referee ignored him and gave China the goal kick.
Then, when Li Tie was defending near the touchline, he hooked Medford with his foot and the referee showed him the yellow card. As a result, Li Tie became China's first yellow card winner in the World Cup.
In the 61st minute of the match, the last thing China wanted came. Gomez was sent straight to the front of the box. Although Wanchope's shot was blocked by Xu Yunlong, Gomez was able to put the ball into the Chinese goal with a left-footed shot.1:0, Costa Rica takes the lead for now.
The leading score had Costa Rica's morale on the rise. In the 64th minute of the match, Costa Rica was awarded a free kick on the left side after Li Weifeng kicked a cross from the left side of Gomez off the line. Costa Rica did not choose to hoist the ball directly into the penalty area, but opened a tactical corner kick. Gomez received the ball, the bottom line turned to the left foot, and Wright's front header extended the score.
Now there was no way back for China, and Milo immediately made a personnel change, replacing Yang Chen with Cebu Maozhen. In the 70th minute of the match, China's right corner kick caused chaos in Costa Rica's penalty area. Unfortunately, Li Weifeng simply couldn't get started in the melee. When Xu Yunlong had a chance to shoot, the ball went wide.
Costa Rica made a change in the meantime, with Bryce replacing Wallace. In the 74th minute of the match, China replaced Fan Zhiyi with Gen Wei. Unfortunately, China's adjustments had limited effect, except for Wu Chengying who caused Gomez to be carded. It came down to yellow cards for both Xu Yunlong and Li Xiaopeng.
Costa Rica attacked again in the 84th minute of play when Gomez broke through on the left side of the counter. Lopez's powerful left-footed shot just replaced Wanchope. Luckily for him, he was steadily tackled by Jiangjin.
In the last minute of the game, Costa Rica was still fighting back. If not for Jiang Jin's interference and Li Wei Feng's goal line clearance, I am afraid Gomez would have broken through the Chinese goal again.
The score of 0:2 remained until the end, and China's World Cup debut ended with a bitter loss. Many fans will ask if everything would have been different if Sun Jihai was not injured.
