At high noon on July 17th, the Chinese women's soccer team played a crucial second warm-up match against the Colombian women's soccer team in Australia. This was not only the last warm-up match before the World Cup, but also a key match for Coach Shui Qingxia's team to ensure the players' best form and tactical proficiency. She particularly pointed out that the players had to show their best form in this match. The match was played in a strictly closed environment. In the end, the Chinese women's soccer team and the Colombian women's soccer team drew 2-2, with Zhang Xin's two exquisite assists and Wu Chengshu's two brilliant strokes, which together wrote a wonderful chapter of this warm-up match.
In terms of tactics and application of formation, the Chinese women's soccer team performed well. Despite suffering two goals conceded - one an own goal and the other a penalty kick resulting from a defensive foul - both goals were attributed to our mistakes. In contrast, our goals were scored entirely on a show of strength. The goals scored by Zhang Xin and Wu Chengshu proved that we were not underpowered.
At the beginning of the match, the Chinese women's soccer team made a mistake in the 20th minute, which led to an oolong goal. However, the team quickly adjusted and struck back in just two minutes with an assist from Zhang Xin and a goal from Wu Chengshu. Wu Chengshu scored again nine minutes later to make it 2-1, but the Colombian women's soccer team was awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time before halftime to equalize the score.
The warm-up match not only showed the real level of Chinese women's soccer, but also brought valuable confidence and adjustment to the team by playing against the Colombian women's soccer team, which is ranked second in South America and 25th in the world. Shui Qingxia's coaching staff arranged this warm-up match with the aim of practicing tactics rather than pursuing results, hoping to be fully prepared for the World Cup through the two warm-up matches with Brazilian and Colombian women's soccer teams. We firmly believe that we can achieve the best results in the World Cup.
Zhang Xin and Wu Chengshu, who stayed in Australia, were the key players of the campaign. Although we regret the 2-2 draw, it gives us confidence for the future. We have noted the gaps and strengths against the stronger American teams and are concerned about the mistakes in defense, including penalty kicks and oopsies. Fortunately, these mistakes occurred in warm-up matches and not official World Cup matches. We will continue to focus on and improve our defense to be fully prepared for the World Cup.
With the World Cup just around the corner, the Chinese women's soccer team will temporarily stop warm-up matches for physical adjustment and recovery. Zhang Linyan, Wang Frost, Wu Chengshu, Tang Jiali and other main players will give their best. As long as we make sure we don't lose to the Danish women's soccer team, the hope of getting out of the group will be greatly increased.
