The China Team's upset victory over the Japan Team became the hottest topic of the Asian Cup.
Chinese media praised the players' fighting spirit, not only lavishing praise on Gao Nuo for scoring the winning goal but also specifically commending the China Team's defense, stating that their repeated blocks laid the foundation for victory.
Japanese media were furious about their team's elimination, criticizing their own players and also attacking the China Team's defense, believing that the China Team stole the victory with unsportsmanlike tactics and a rough playing style.
The China Team's fans dismissed this with disdain. After Nan Ye maliciously kicked the ball into Wu Xi's face, China Team fans wanted to personally go onto the field and beat up those little Japanese. Seeing the players' tough defense, they all applauded enthusiastically.
Despite various miscellaneous matters, the China Team's training was not affected at all. In three days, they would face the host, Qatar, with the two teams competing for the final championship.
On February 10, 2024, at Khalifa International Stadium, the Asian Cup final, China vs. Qatar.
The China Team, which had always been considered by outsiders to have reached the quarterfinals by luck, successively defeated Iran and Japan. This forced Qatar to re-evaluate the China Team's strength, and they maintained a relatively conservative 3-5-2 formation.
The China Team's two consecutive 'park the bus' tactics were due to a clear disparity in strength and an unavoidable choice. Now facing the host, Qatar, Jankovic reinstated the 4-4-2 formation from the group stage, hoping the players could fully express themselves in the final.
After a series of entrance ceremonies, the Asian Cup final officially began.
In the 2nd minute of the match, the attacking China Team took the lead with a preemptive strike. Wu Lei and Dai Weijun executed a series of short passes on the left wing. Wu Lei then crossed from the byline, and Gao Nuo soared into the penalty area, heading the ball from above the crossbar's height, smashing it into the goal from top to bottom.
He Wei was extremely excited in the live broadcast room: "Goal! In the 2nd minute of the opening! The China Team scores! Gao Nuo receives Wu Lei's cross and scores with a header! Too fast! The China Team scores a lightning goal! Let's watch the replay together. Wu Lei's cross was very high, and the landing point should be towards the far post. Wow! Gao Nuo jumped too high; the defender's head only reached his waist. Gao Nuo slammed the ball into the goal like a dunk! It's too spectacular! I wonder if the director can provide accurate data; I estimate his jumping height was over one meter."
The China Team led 1:0, and the pace of the match immediately picked up, with both sides engaging in an attacking battle.
In the 14th minute of the match, Qatar earned a corner kick. Zhu Chenjie headed it clear, but Qatar won the second ball, and a long-range shot was saved by Yan Junling.
In the 18th minute of the match, the China Team launched a quick counterattack. Gao Nuo first used his speed to beat the full-back on the right wing, then executed a beautiful back-heel flick to change direction, dribbling past another defender. He crossed the ball from the edge of the penalty area to the front of the goal, but Wu Lei was a bit slow to react, and the goalkeeper cleared the ball early.
In the 25th minute of the match, Takar's long-range shot hit Zhang Linpeng's hand. The Referee repeatedly confirmed with VAR and finally awarded a penalty kick. China Team fans erupted in loud boos, but it did not affect Almoez Ali, who converted the penalty, and Qatar equalized the score.
In the 33rd minute of the match, the China Team took a goal kick. Gao Nuo successfully won the header, flicking it back. Zhang Xizhe and Jin Jingdao exchanged passes in midfield. Seeing Dai Weijun making a forward run on the left, Zhang Xizhe quickly switched the ball. After receiving the ball, Dai Weijun attempted to break through but had the ball dispossessed by a defender. The ball rolled to Liu Yang, who followed up and delivered a 45-degree cross. In the penalty area, Gao Nuo fell during a challenge. The Referee initially pointed to the penalty spot but then reviewed VAR again, finally canceling the penalty decision, which again drew huge boos from the fans on the sidelines.
In the 42nd minute of the match, Zhu Chenjie made a mistake; his back pass to the goalkeeper was too weak. Qatar's forward Almoez Ali and Yan Junling challenged for the 50/50 ball. Yan Junling's physique was, after all, a bit weaker, and Ali successfully won possession. Facing an open goal, he scored without suspense.
Qatar took the lead, ending the first half with a score of 2:1.
He Wei in the live broadcast room summarized the situation on the field: "The China Team played an attacking game today, and while it was very entertaining, the disadvantages in the midfield and defense were still evident. They are temporarily one goal down. We don't know what adjustments the China Team will make in the second half. Let's take a short break and look forward to the second half."
In the China Team's locker room, Jankovic stuck to his usual routine of boosting morale. With only the final 45 minutes of the final remaining, the China Team players were united in spirit, just waiting for the break to end to return to the field and overturn their opponents.
The second half began, with Qatar's formation dropping back to strengthen their defense. The China Team switched to a 4-3-3 formation, with Dai Weijun and Wu Lei on the wings and Gao Nuo leading the attack in the center.
In the 50th minute of the match, the China Team, whose formation was increasingly pushed forward, made another mistake. Substitute Gao Zhunyi's first touch was too heavy, and he was dispossessed by Qatar's Mohammed Waad, allowing Qatar to launch a counterattack.
With three passes and two touches, Ali once again drove into the penalty area. Fortunately, Zhu Chenjie did not make another mistake this time, firmly holding his defensive position and blocking Ali's shot out for a corner.
In the 55th minute of the match, Zhang Xizhe's through ball helped Dai Weijun penetrate to the byline on the left. He glanced at the situation in the middle; both Gao Nuo and Wu Lei were in the penalty area. Dai Weijun delivered a low cross; the idea was good, but the quality of the pass was quite ordinary, and Qatar's defender intercepted the ball at the near post.
The 180cm tall Suhail was the backdrop for Gao Nuo's first goal. At that moment, he jumped with all his might, only feeling a huge mountain pressing down behind him, and then he saw the terrifying China Team's number 77, as if flying in the sky, smashing the ball into the goal. From that moment on, a shadow formed in his heart.
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After intercepting Dai Weijun's cross, Suhail knew that the "Great Demon King" was standing behind him. His feet became a little flustered. Just as he was about to kick the ball out of bounds, he felt a huge force from behind, and a red and black football boot appeared between his legs.
Gao Nuo reacted extremely quickly. Seeing the opponent intercept the cross, he immediately pressed forward, extending his leg from behind Suhail, pushing the opponent away while trapping the ball under his foot. Facing the goalkeeper, the shooting angle was too narrow, so Gao Nuo laid the ball off to Wu Lei. It was an easy tap-in for Wu Lei, who scored into an empty net, China Team 2:2 Qatar, the score was tied.
Suhail sat on the ground, watching the celebrating China Team players not far away, especially number 77. His heart was filled with a sense of powerlessness.
After the equalizer, Qatar's formation pushed forward again, and both sides resumed their attacking battle.
In the 68th minute of the match, Jin Jingdao intercepted a pass in midfield, and the China Team launched a textbook counterattack. A long ball was played to the front, and Gao Nuo, relying on his individual speed, caught up with the ball. Suhail once again faced Gao Nuo; he had long lost his fighting spirit and was easily beaten by a simple change of pace from Gao Nuo. It was a one-on-one situation, giving Qatar no hope. Before the goalkeeper came out, Gao Nuo slotted the ball into the top left corner of the goal, scoring.
The China Team led 3:2. Gao Nuo took off his shirt to celebrate and received a yellow card.
Qatar's head coach spotted the problem and angrily substituted Suhail. Hearing the boos from the home fans, Suhail's eyes reddened. He picked up a towel and covered his head; he simply couldn't face Gao Nuo.
No one on the field cared about the emotionally wounded Suhail. Qatar launched a frantic attack. As the host, they wanted to win the championship on home soil.
In the 84th minute of the match, the China Team appropriately tightened their defense, withstanding Qatar's attacks. Several dangerous situations in front of the goal were bravely resolved by Yan Junling.
After once again holding Takar's long-range shot, Yan Junling saw Gao Nuo positioned high up the field. He ran a few steps with the ball and launched a long kick to the front.
Gao Nuo's off-the-ball movement was excellent; he had started early, and Yan Junling's long pass left him with no defenders in front of him. After dribbling for 20 meters, Gao Nuo was once again one-on-one with the goalkeeper. There was still no surprise; he easily slotted the ball in.
The China Team led Qatar 4:2. Gao Nuo completed a hat-trick, essentially killing the game.
The entire match ended with the China Team holding their ground, defeating Qatar 4:2 and winning the Asian Cup championship.