The Chinese men's football team defeated Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout and won the bronze medal at the Nagoya Asian Games.

China News Service, October 3 (Reporter Li Zhiquan) On October 3, local time, in the third and fourth place finals of the men's football team at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, the Chinese team and the Uzbekistan team tied 2-2 in regular time. The Chinese team won the penalty shootout 4-3 and won the bronze medal. After 28 years, the Chinese team returned to the Asian Games men's football podium.

In the 14th minute of the game, the Chinese team played a one-two in front of the penalty area. Kuai Jiwen sent an assist, and Hu Hetao followed up and scored. The Chinese team led 1-0. In the 18th minute, the Uzbek team scored a goal through a counterattack, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.

In the 43rd minute, Uzbekistan's Bahromov shot from outside the penalty area and tied the score to 1-1. At the end of the first half, the two sides were tied, and the suspense increased sharply.

The game changed again. In the 53rd minute, Wang Yudong hit a world wave from outside the penalty area. The ball went straight into the goal. The Chinese team took the lead again and the score became 2-1. At the last moment of regular time, the Uzbek team scored a goal to equalize the score. The two sides were tied at 2-2 in the 90th minute.

In the penalty shootout, both sides missed the first penalty. In the second round, both sides made free throws, and the score came to 1-1. In the third round, the Uzbek team missed a free throw and the Chinese team made a free throw. The Chinese team led 2-1. In the fourth round, both sides scored free throws, and the Chinese team led 3-2. In the fifth round, both sides scored penalties. In the end, the Chinese team won 4-3 and won the bronze medal in the men's football team at this Asian Games.

The last time the Chinese men's football team won an Asian Games medal dates back to the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, when the team defeated the host Thailand 3-0 in the third-place match and won the bronze medal. It has been 28 years since then. Winning the bronze medal at the Nagoya Asian Games also ended this long wait. This is also the first medal won by the Chinese men's football team in the Asian Games after the men's football event was restructured to compete in the U23 age group.