Back-to-back equalizers! U23 national team draws 1-1 with North Korea, Xiang Yu Wang's penalty saves the team, Li Xin Xiang creates the penalty for a remarkable contribution.

At 19:35 Beijing time on March 28, the second round of the 2026 CFA China Team · Xi'an International Youth Football Tournament featured a key match, with China's U23 national team hosting North Korea's U23 at the Xi'an International Football Center. Ultimately, the U23 national team managed a hard-fought 1-1 draw thanks to a penalty goal by Xiang Yu Wang in the 87th minute. This resulted in two consecutive draws in the Xi'an invitational tournament, yet it also marked back-to-back matches where they rallied from behind to level the score.

First Half: Defensive line plagued by injuries, national team trails 0-1 at halftime.

After the match began, the North Korean team displayed a robust style and ample physical stamina, applying high-intensity pressing and straightforward wing-crossing tactics to exert sustained pressure on the U23 national team's defense. In the 6th minute, North Korea's Choi Yong Il unleashed a sudden long-range shot outside the box; national team goalkeeper Yao Hao Yang reacted swiftly, palming the ball over the crossbar to avert the first threat.

In the 22nd minute, North Korea broke the deadlock. Kim Sung Hyun delivered a long pass from the left flank behind the defense, Lee Il Sung's angled shot was saved by Yao Hao Yang, and the following Lee Gwang Myung seized the opportunity to volley home the rebound, putting the U23 national team behind 0-1. Trouble compounded when, in the 34th minute, national team defender Peng Xiao sustained a back injury during a challenge and was unable to continue, replaced by He Yi Ran, further weakening the defensive stability. Throughout the first half, the national team lagged in both possession rate and shot attempts, failing to organize effective attacks.

Second Half: Xiang Yu Wang contributes as a substitute, Li Xin Xiang creates penalty to equalize.

After the restart, head coach Antonio made multiple substitution adjustments attempting to reverse the passive situation. In the 56th minute, substitutes Xiang Yu Wang, Zhang Ying Kai, Yang Hao Yu, among others, entered the pitch. However, North Korea maintained their high-intensity offensive pressure; the national team's three lines were noticeably disconnected, with many passing errors, making it difficult to form sustained attacking combinations.

The stalemate was only broken in the 85th minute. Li Xin Xiang drove into the box and was tripped by a North Korean player, prompting the referee to decisively award a penalty. In the 87th minute, substitute Xiang Yu Wang stepped up to take the spot-kick; although the North Korean goalkeeper guessed the direction correctly, he couldn't prevent the ball from finding the net, allowing the U23 national team to equalize 1-1! This marked Xiang Yu Wang's second consecutive match scoring for the U23 national team, showcasing his good competitive form.

Post-match: Two consecutive draws expose issues, final round against Vietnam for first win.

Ultimately, the full match concluded with the U23 national team drawing 1-1 with North Korea, ending both matches with draws. This game exposed problems such as insufficient stamina, numerous passing errors, and lack of defensive coordination; facing North Korea's high-intensity pressing, they seemed limited in solutions, often making aimless passes in attack without clear organization. Another point is the considerable gap between the main and rotation players.

Match Statistics

For the entire match, the U23 national team's possession rate was only 41%, with just 5 total shots, of which 1 was on target. North Korea's U23 had 18 shots, with 6 on target. It can be said the 1-1 score was a result of the U23 national team forcing a draw against their opponent.

Following this match, the Xi'an invitational tournament standings changed. Thailand defeated Vietnam 1-0 in an earlier match, accumulating 4 points to rise to the top; the U23 national team and North Korea both have 2 points, ranking second and third respectively; Vietnam has 1 point at the bottom. On March 31, the U23 national team will face their final opponent in this invitational—Vietnam's U23. Whether the team can adjust their form to secure their first win is something to look forward to.

Watch the U23 national team on Migu! At 19:35 on March 31, the U23 national team versus Vietnam U23. AI black technology, special camera angles await your discovery, focusing on every detail of the pitch!