On November 23, according to the Oriental Sports Daily, the quarterfinals of the Men’s Football event in the First National Youth Three Major Ball Games concluded this afternoon in Changsha, Hunan. Xu Genbao and Xi Zhikang led the Shanghai men’s football team (U18) to a resounding 6-1 victory over Hebei, advancing confidently to the semi-finals.
The report stated that the Hebei team was composed of some elite players from Hebei’s youth training program and eligible players from the Shanghai Lucky Star Club. They were known for their aggressive defense, as evidenced by their elimination of the host team Hunan in the group stage, showcasing their strength.
In the opening of this match, Hebei targeted the two central attackers of Shanghai, Kuai Jiwen and Liu Chengyu, with tight defense. However, Shanghai’s wingers seized their opportunities, with Wang Ziheng scoring twice and Zhang Junjie adding another goal. Captain Kuai Jiwen sealed the first half with a goal, making the halftime score 4-0. Kuai Jiwen’s goal tally in this “Three Major Ball Games” also rose to 8 (including one penalty kick).
Considering the tight schedule and tough battles ahead, Shanghai gradually substituted key players like Wang Ziheng at halftime. Hebei capitalized on this opportunity to score a goal, but Liu Chengyu quickly extended the lead with a penalty kick, making it 5-1. Near the end of the match, Shanghai substitute Hai Xiang scored the final goal, sealing the victory.
The schedule of this Three Major Ball Games is intense, with only one rest day between the group stage and the final. After the grueling group stage, all teams faced physical bottlenecks. Yesterday afternoon’s quarterfinals saw several upsets, with top favorites such as Guangdong being eliminated by Sichuan, and Zhejiang, featuring national youth star Wang Yudong, losing to Shandong, who finished second in Group A. Another favorite, Hubei, squandered a 2-0 lead in the first half and was eventually eliminated by Jilin in a penalty shootout. Out of the four group winners, only Shanghai advanced to the semi-finals!
At 9:45 AM on the 25th, Shanghai will face the tenacious Jilin team at the center field of Helong Sports Center to compete for a spot in the final. The other semi-final will be between Sichuan and Shandong.
