Under the hot sun in Zagreb, Croatia, the Chinese U-21 Men's National Football Team welcomed the third round of the Croatian Second Division League at 17:00 on August 31st, this time against NK Kustošija, who ranked fifth in the league last season.
In the 25th minute, the rivals launched an attack from the side road, created a threat with a clever pass, and then added a shot to break the deadlock. However, in the 46th minute, Shanghai Shenhua FC's He Longhai grabbed a precise pass from Abdul Mehsuri Abdurahmu and fired a low shot to equalize the score at 1:1. It seemed that everything was going well, but the opponents were awarded a penalty kick in the 74th minute and scored again. In the end, the Chinese team was defeated by 1:2.
The starting lineup is as follows: Wang Jinshuai, Yang Zihao, Ruan Qilong, Liu Wenhao, Zhu Yue, Jia Feifan, Duan Dezhi, He Longhai, Gao Tianyi, Yi Xianlong, Zhao Jianbo.
Substitutes include: Zheng Xuejian, Chen Xiangyu, Abdul Meat Suli Abdurahmu, Tao Qianglong, Zhang Xiangshuo, Chen Rong, Zhu Qiwen, Jin Shunkai, Liu Junxian, Wang Yiwei, and Lai Tenglong.
Moving on to Sept. 5, China's U-21 men's national soccer team will take on HNK Hrvatski Dragovoljac to continue their challenge in the Croatian second division.
