Huang Zihao's only 13 minutes of regular-season action in a 2020 F.A.C.A. Cup fixture showed his mettle, as he was able to rotate into the game against Meizhou Hakka due to a lopsided scoreline (7-2), only to make his real league debut on April 25th, 2021, in the first round of the Central League.
Born in June 2001, Huang Zihao made his debut in the Central League before the age of 20, making his debut and pouncing on a penalty kick, a feat that was noteworthy enough. Cheng Yaodong included him in the U20 national team, not because he played for Jiangsu, but because he has that kind of strength.
Huang Zihao's league debut was full of highlights, as he not only showed consistent saves on the goal line, but also managed to defuse a number of threatening shots from Jiang Zilei and Chagas.
Most impressively, Huang Zihao skillfully made a flying save on a penalty kick shot from Chagas, making a quick chopping motion to keep the ball out.
However, there was also a goal conceded that left Huang Zihao facing a challenge that all goalkeepers have faced. The ball was bouncing quickly off the ground and the opposing team had two ghosts on the goal, creating a huge distraction. In this situation, the goalkeeper had to keep an eye on both the ball and the opposing team, and if he was not careful, the ball bounced into the goal.
This unpredictable turnover of the ball was actually a test for Huang Zihao. But he found a way to make up for it in consistent and precise saves and in filling in for the defenders. With the training from the Central League tournament, Huang Zihao is expected to significantly improve his status in the U20 national team.
