It must be admitted that the China Team currently has a significant gap with the Japan Team, but holding a draw in the first half was good news for the China Team.
Jankovic once again gave the players a pep talk during halftime, and the goal for the second half was clear: drag the game to the last 10 minutes, then prepare for a final push.
The second half began, and facing a dense defense, the Japan Team became a bit anxious, constantly attacking both flanks.
In the 52nd minute of the match, the Japan Team's free kick was sent into the penalty area. Yan Junling, seeing the opportunity, ran forward two steps and leaped high, accurately striking the ball with both fists above the head of the Japan Team's forward, Guqiao.
The ball, flying out of the penalty area, landed at Tomiyasu's feet. Seeing that Yan Junling had no time to return to the goal, Tomiyasu directly volleyed. The shot had a lot of power, and the ball flew towards the goal as a half-height shot.
After landing, Yan Junling collided with Guqiao, and both fell to the ground. At this moment, even using his hands and feet to get up, it was too late for him to retreat to the goal.
Just as it seemed the goal was about to be conceded, Zhang Linpeng stepped up. He was on the goal line, leaped sideways, and headed the ball out of bounds. Zhang Linpeng, suspended in the air, almost hit the goalpost.
After clearing the ball off the line, Zhang Linpeng stood up and roared loudly, and the China Team's defense was in high spirits.
In the 63rd minute of the match, Nan Ye of the Japan Team took a long shot from outside the penalty area. The ball heavily struck Wu Xi's face, and the game was interrupted. The team doctor entered the field to check, and after the examination, Wu Xi insisted on continuing the match.
The Japan Team played with increasing impatience, and their actions on the field became less clean.
In the 65th minute of the match, Gao Nuo headed out the Japan Team's corner kick. Xu Xin, who was contending for the first landing spot in the midfield, was elbowed to the ground. The Referee decisively showed a yellow card, calming the dissatisfied China Team.
In the 68th minute of the match, Xu Xin kicked an opponent's calf during a tackle, almost causing a conflict between both sides. He was ultimately warned with a yellow card by the Referee.
In the 71st minute of the match, Wu Xi fell to the ground during a challenge. It was Nan Ye of the Japan Team again, who once more kicked the ball heavily into Wu Xi's face. This time, the Referee could no longer control the situation. The China Team's players instantly swarmed around, and the furious Xu Xin directly wrestled Nan Ye to the ground. Gao Nuo, that hot-blooded youth, was not idle either; he seemingly broke up the fight but actually pushed and bumped the Japan Team's players aside.
The linesman and Referee immediately rushed over, and with great effort, they separated the players. Then, they directly showed two red cards, sending Xu Xin and Nan Ye off the field. Gao Nuo, who had made several dirty plays, did not escape VAR's eyes and received a yellow card. The game was interrupted for nearly 10 minutes, and Wu Xi was forced off, replaced by Zhang Xizhe.
After such malicious fouls, the players' tempers did not subside. Their idea was simple: if you play dirty, we'll get physical. In the following 10 minutes, the China Team received a total of 3 yellow cards, and their tough defensive attitude made the Japan Team's offense less fluid.
In the 85th minute of the match, with injury time added, there were about 15 minutes left. Following a gesture from Coach Jankovic, Zhang Xizhe, who was originally withdrawn, moved forward, and Wu Lei also took a more advanced position, forming a 'one tall, two fast' combination in the front field with Gao Nuo. The China Team's counterattack horn sounded; it was time for a desperate fight.
In the 90th minute of the match, the China Team's push forward gave the Japan Team an opportunity. Tomiyasu, a starting full-back for Arsenal, had excellent stamina. In the final stages of the match, he was still able to outpace Liu Yang with his speed. After getting to the byline on the right, he sent a low cross into the penalty area.
Zhang Linpeng at the near post was already exhausted; he felt he could cramp at any moment. As a 35-year-old veteran, this was his last Asian Cup match. At this point, no one wanted to lose. Zhang Linpeng used his last ounce of strength to stretch out his leg, and the ball bounced off his toe, continuing to fly towards the center.
Yan Junling rushed out. He and Guqiao of the Japan Team jumped simultaneously. Yan Junling collided with Guqiao's raised elbow, punched the ball out, and then was knocked to the ground by Guqiao.
The Referee's whistle blew, a foul for charging the goalkeeper. It was the China Team's ball. The two veterans once again defended the goal.
In the 96th minute of the match, the Japan Team pushed everyone forward. With a huge advantage in strength, they wanted to end the match in regular time.
Zhang Linpeng finally fell to the ground after a tackle; he had cramped.
The Japan Team's attack continued. Maeda seized the cleared ball; he ignored the fallen Zhang Linpeng and passed the ball into the penalty area.
The China Team's appeals were not answered by the Referee. Without time to protest, they quickly continued to defend.
This time, Li Ang stepped up. Facing the Japan Team's powerful shot, he showed no intention of dodging, blocking the ball with his chest. Zhu Chenjie in the penalty area quickly cleared it with a big kick.
The fallen Zhang Linpeng saw the ball fly towards Gao Nuo and struggled to get up from the ground, not wanting the Referee to stop the match.
At the center circle, Gao Nuo held off the Japanese player behind him, successfully trapping the ball and turning. The China Team's counterattack was on.
Gao Nuo, who had been largely quiet throughout the match, had been waiting for this opportunity. He passed the ball to Wu Lei on the left, then began to sprint forward.
Wu Lei was too tired to run anymore. He gave up the idea of dribbling forward and fiercely threaded the ball towards the goal, leaving the rest to Gao Nuo.
The wall pass allowed Gao Nuo's explosiveness to be maximized. The two defenders in front of him got closer and closer. Within 10 meters, Gao Nuo successfully overtook one player.
At 30 meters from the goal, Gao Nuo caught up with the last defender. Both extended their legs to hook the ball simultaneously. The Japan Team's player was knocked away, and Gao Nuo gained possession. A one-on-one!
The Japan Team's coach on the sidelines shouted angrily at the fourth official. He believed Gao Nuo had fouled. Nakamura, the Japan Team's goalkeeper, stood on the six-yard line, watching the tall figure rush towards him. Nakamura rushed out of his goal; he spread his arms and stretched out his legs, pouncing at Gao Nuo's feet like a frog.
A defender was right behind Gao Nuo; he couldn't slow down. So, a scene from the match against Fulham replayed.
He flicked the ball forward with his left foot, then leaped high, and Gao Nuo, with both himself and the ball, went over Nakamura's body.
Gao Nuo landed a bit unsteadily, braced himself with his right hand, regained his balance, and then slotted the ball into the empty net.
The replay clearly showed that Gao Nuo had used his body to push off the opponent; there was no foul, and the goal was valid.
The China Team led the Japan Team 1-0, with only a few minutes left in the match.
After scoring, Gao Nuo didn't slide. He was too tired to run. Just as he was about to take off his jersey, Wu Lei loudly stopped him from behind. He almost forgot he had a yellow card. In the end, Gao Nuo just walked to the stands, pointed to his number 77 jersey on his back, and enjoyed the cheers of the fans with his teammates who ran over.
Yan Junling and Zhang Linpeng embraced in the backfield. The coaching staff and substitutes on the sidelines all stood up, anxiously cheering loudly for their teammates on the field!
As long as they held on for the final few minutes, the China Team would advance to the final.
At the Referee's urging, the China Team players returned to their half. The Japan Team kicked off, and the match continued.
The China Team had no more substitutions left. Zhang Linpeng could only grit his teeth and persevere. Wu Lei and Gao Nuo also gave up on attacking. The China Team all retreated to the front and around the penalty area, desperately holding onto the 1-0 lead.
As the Referee's whistle blew, the coaching staff and substitute players rushed onto the field. They tackled Gao Nuo, picked him up, threw him high into the air, caught him, and threw him up again. Gao Nuo's goal propelled the China Team into the final, and he enjoyed the treatment of a hero.
