China's men's football team defeated Uzbekistan on penalty kick and won the bronze medal in the men's football team at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games

China News Service, Nagoya, Japan, October 3 (Reporter Li Zhiquan) In the men's football bronze medal match at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games held on the 3rd, the Chinese team tied with the Uzbekistan team 2:2 in regular time, and then won the penalty shootout 4:3 and won the bronze medal.

This is the first time in 28 years that the Chinese men's football team has reached the podium at the Asian Games. It is also the first time that the Chinese team has won a medal since the U23 age limit was implemented for the men's football event in the Asian Games.

In the 15th minute of the game, the Chinese team played a one-two in front of the penalty area. Kuai Jiwen assisted and Hu Hetao followed up and scored. The Chinese team took the lead in scoring. In the 42nd minute, Uzbekistan's Bahromov equalized the score.

Changing sides to fight again, in the 53rd minute, Wang Yudong blasted a world wave from outside the penalty area, the ball went straight into the goal, and the Chinese team took the lead again. At the last moment of regular time, the Uzbekistan team equalized the score and dragged the game into a penalty shootout.

The penalty shootout was equally thrilling. Both sides missed free throws in the first round and each made free throws in the second round. In the third round, the Uzbekistan team missed another free throw and the Chinese team made a hit. After that, both sides made consecutive free throws, and the Chinese team finally won 4:3. Goalkeeper Li Hao saved the opponent's penalty kick twice and became the key to the team's victory.

When the final whistle sounded, Antonio, the head coach of the Chinese team, hugged his players one by one, and then picked up Li Hao high. After leading twice, being tied twice and a penalty shootout, the Chinese team finally won the bronze medal.

"We just want to get this medal." Veteran Wu Xi said that the team showed firm belief from the beginning of the game. "Everyone united and became a rope."

Hu Hetao, who opened the scoring, said that this goal was "for the team and for our team." He believes that compared to the Asian Cup, this team is more united and solid. "When facing strong teams, we will not be afraid. We will control the ball step by step and then find space."

The Chinese men's football team won the bronze medal in the Asian Games twice in 1978 and 1998, and the silver medal in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games. Winning another bronze medal this time, the Chinese men's football team returned to the Asian Games podium after 28 years.