U17 Asian Cup Qualifier Group G Third Round Report
At noon on October 9, a marquee match was staged at the Shepperton Sports City Stadium in Shepperton, Australia, in the third round of Group G of the 20th U17 Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers, with Australia taking on China.
[Our performance]
In the first two rounds of the tournament, our country beat Cambodia and the Northern Mariana Islands with scores of 9-0 and 11-0, scoring a total of 20 goals in the two matches. Among them, Wang Yudong scored 7 goals, Zhang Haojie contributed 3 goals, Huang Kaijun, Liu Chengyu and Wang Haobin scored 2 goals each, and Kuai Jiwen, Ouyang Jiaxin, Fuxiao and Mei Shuaijun scored one goal each.
Although we are 13 goals behind Australia, we must beat our opponents if we are to top the group and advance directly. If we draw with Australia, both sides will advance. In the unfortunate event of a defeat, we will be second in the group with 3 points and a goal difference of no more than 8. Whether we can advance to the final stage as second in the group with a best of 6 is yet to be revealed. Head coach Yang Chen said, "The last game against Australia is crucial and everyone will give their best."
[Australian performance]
In the first two rounds of the tournament, Australia defeated the Northern Mariana Islands 23-0 and Cambodia 10-0, scoring a total of 33 goals in the two matches. Of the total, Ilan Kunda scored six goals, Hartley and Grayson scored five each, Kuntar scored four, Pizzio scored three, Anthony, Lebib, and Dovison scored two each, and Parks and Pearman scored one each.
Australia is 13 goals ahead of us and can advance directly to the final stage with either a draw or a win. If they lose to us, they will finish second in the group with 3 points and a goal difference of no more than 9. If they lose to us, there is still uncertainty as to whether they will finish second in the group with a best of 6 to advance to the final stage.
[Projected debut]
Australia: 1 Pavlesic; 2 Anthony, 3 Phillips, 4 Lebib, 14 Parkes; 7 Quintal, 8 Sutherland, 10 Pizzio, 21 Talladilla; 17 Irankunda, 19 Grayson
China: 22 - Xie Gongbo; 16 - Liu Tiecheng, 3 - Wu Qipeng, 2 - Sun Kangbo; 8 - Huang Kaijun, 19 - Kuai Jiwen, 23 - Fuxiao, 7 - Cui Taixu; 15 - Zhang Haojie, 10 - Wang Yudong, 17 - He Kanghua
