China's national football team suffered a tough 2-0 defeat against Japan in the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship (East Asian Cup) on Saturday, marking their second consecutive loss in the tournament. The match, held in Yongin, South Korea, saw Japan dominate early with goals from Mao Hosoya and Henry Heroki Mochizuki. 🥅
Japan struck first in the 11th minute as Hosoya capitalized on a precise pass from Satoshi Tanaka. China nearly responded minutes later, but Zhang Yuning's one-on-one attempt was saved, and Wei Shihao missed the rebound. Mochizuki sealed Japan's victory with a stunning long-range goal in the 63rd minute. 💥
This loss follows China's 3-0 defeat to South Korea in their opening game. Despite the setbacks, players remain optimistic. Zhang Yuning emphasized the value of high-stakes matches for younger teammates: "It's a great opportunity for them to grow by playing on a big stage." 🌟
Caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic called the tournament a "new beginning" for the squad, highlighting the integration of fresh talent. "We've seen promising signs," he said, praising young players' on-field contributions. 🚀
