MK sport South China's Guangdong Province, on February 12, 2025. Photo: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-02-12/9b3ff10a-c08f-4798-858f-91e108e831cd.jpeg" />

Liu Chengyu (No.9) of China scores against Qatar in their AFC U20 Asian Cup match in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, on February 12, 2025. Photo: VCG

The Chinese national under-20 football team got off to a winning start at the home AFC U20 Asian Cup on Wednesday by defeating Qatar 2-1 at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province.

Goals from Kuai Jiwen and Liu Chengyu sent China to a 2-0 lead in the first half until Qatar, winners of the 2015 AFC U20 Asian Cup, scored one in the second half. 

The Chinese team has set lofty ambitions as they seek to gain a place at the FIFA U20 World Cup Chile 2025, having last qualified for the global showpiece in 2005.

"Our goal has not changed, which is to get into the top four of this Asian Cup and get a ticket to the World Cup," the Chinese team head coach Dejan Durdevic said.

At noon on Wednesday, Song Kai, president of the Chinese Football Association, quoted the classic line "My fate is determined by myself, not by the Heavens" from the domestic animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2, when delivering a pep talk to the Chinese U20 team. He encouraged the young players to bravely control the ball at their feet and achieve breakthroughs through their own efforts.

Under the gaze of senior national team head coach Branko Ivankovic and Serb coach Bora Milutinovic, who led China to their only FIFA World Cup appearance in 2002, the Chinese team played with a much higher ball possession than their counterparts.

Data on the match showed Qatar only had one shot on target in eight tries, which turned out to be the goal they scored, while China had six shots on target in 13 tries.

The Chinese under-20 team is grouped with Australia, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar in Group A. They will go on to take on the Kyrgyzstan U20 team on Saturday and face the Australia U20 team on Tuesday. 

Australia routed Kyrgyzstan 5-1 earlier on Wednesday.

The ongoing AFC Under-20 Asian Cup, which also serves as a key opportunity to scout young talents for the senior national teams, will run until March 1.

The performances of the U20 players in this tournament may determine their chances of being selected for the national team, as Ivankovic aims to accelerate the rejuvenation of the senior national team, which will continue their World Cup Asian qualifying campaign in March.

Since Djurdjevic took charge in January 2024, China's U20 side has played several international friendlies, including 2-0 wins over South Korea and Iran, and a 1-1 draw with Australia, raising Chinese fans' hopes for a strong showing at the upcoming Asian Cup on home soil.