Korean football secures a 3-0 victory over China… Chinese media acknowledges defeat

The South Korean national football team, led by manager Hong Myung-bo, showcased overwhelming performance against China in the opening match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship.

Chinese media, which boasted about defeating South Korea, expressed criticism towards their own national team.

In the match held on the evening of the 7th at Yongin Mir Stadium, South Korea achieved a decisive 3-0 victory over China, proving sufficient competitiveness even without European players like Son Heung-min.

In this match, Lee Dong-kyung scored the opening goal, followed by goals from Jo Hoon-kyu and Kim Joo-sung, solidifying South Korea's victory.

The Chinese Football Association appointed Dejan Jurejević, who had led the U-20 national team and the Hangzhou Asian Games team, as the interim head coach, replacing the dismissed Ivanković.

Coach Jurejević attempted an aggressive change with a young player-centered squad in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but the results were disastrous.

From the beginning of the match, the team exhibited frequent passing errors and poor organization. In the 8th minute, Kim Moon-hwan made a penetrating pass from the left to Lee Dong-kyung, who skillfully dodged two defenders to score with a stunning long-range shot.

Following that, the Chinese defense continued to make mistakes.

In the 21st minute, Lee Tae-seok's cross was mishandled by defender Zhu Chuanjie, leading to the second goal by Jo Hoon-kyu, and in the 54th minute, Kim Joo-sung found the net during a corner kick situation, taking advantage of the defense's lack of focus.

The match concluded with South Korea's emphatic 3-0 win. Chinese media, which had expressed confidence before the match that they could defeat Korea without Son Heung-min, fell silent afterward.

Chinese media's self-reflection and criticism of the football system

After the defeat, the Chinese media outlet Sohu.com honestly evaluated the match, stating, "China suffered a predictable defeat against Korea." The outlet even used a self-deprecating phrase, saying, "China is playing football like it did 20 years ago."

By framing the East Asian Cup as a confrontation between the countries’ leagues, they acknowledged the disparity in levels among the Super League, K League, and J League.

Sohu.com analyzed that "while the AFC Champions League can somewhat compensate for the gap with foreign players, the East Asian Cup fully exposes China's issues as it plays against Korea and Japan without foreign players."

Pointing out the differences in league competitiveness and game rhythms, they expressed, "No matter how hot it is in Korea, Chinese players stiffen up as soon as they enter the field."

The fundamental problems of Chinese football, recently marred by match-fixing and corruption scandals, were also highlighted.

Although there was optimism about the new coach Dejan Jurejević, Chinese media recognized that there are structural problems that cannot be solved with just a simple coaching change.

Sohu.com remarked, "It’s not merely a tactical issue," predicting, "China was like this 10 years ago, is like this now, and will be like this for a long time to come."

Ultimately, they voiced self-reflection, stating, "More players need to go overseas, and the level of the league must improve," insisting that without change, the issues facing Chinese football will never be resolved.

Image source: News1