East Asian Championship: China lose to Japan, face Hong Kong wooden spoon fight
South China Morning Post - SportsSaturday, July 12, 2025 at 12:28:04 PM
China's football team took another tough loss, falling 0-2 to Japan in the East Asian Championship—setting up a grim final match against Hong Kong to avoid last place. While China showed more fight than in their earlier 3-0 defeat to South Korea, Hong Kong is now their only shot at redemption (and dodging the tournament's "wooden spoon" humiliation). Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea will battle for the title, repeating the same top-two showdown from the past two tournaments.
Editor’s Note: For Chinese football fans, this is another frustrating chapter in a long struggle for regional relevance. The loss to Japan isn’t shocking, but the looming showdown with Hong Kong—a team they’re expected to beat—adds pressure. If they flop, it’s not just a bad tournament; it’s a symbolic low. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea’s dominance highlights the gap East Asia’s smaller teams still need to close.
— Curated via WP Now’s
