China 2-0 Curacao Player Ratings: Yuning Zhang's goal and assist help China take down World Cup bound Curacao

In a first-ever meeting between the sides, China showed their capabilities on the world stage, stunning higher-ranked Curacao 2-0. The first game of the FIFA Series in Australia saw China take on Curacao, and the Dragon Team was up for the task, with Yuning Zhang scoring and assisting to seal the win.

Settling in a 4-4-2, China National Football Team's forwards, Zhang and Shiaho Wei, occupied the Curacao centre-backs and pressed them with intensity. Curacao, who are going to debut at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in North America, looked ineffective on the ball. Despite having possession, they failed to penetrate China's well-drilled defence. China's counterattacks and pressing won them an indirect free kick in the box, but the Curacao defence did just enough to thwart them. Despite having a seasoned European player like Leandro Bacuna, Curacao failed to create a clear-cut chance.

With the game approaching halftime, Zhang dropped deep to flick on a long ball and played in his strike partner Wei. The striker lashed a left-footed finish into the bottom corner to send the Chinese fans into jubilation. Zhang went on to add a goal in the second half as he found himself unmarked after a deflection fell his way. He reacted the fastest and side-footed an effort past the goalkeeper first time. With a 2-0 lead under their belt, China were never getting out of the shell.

The managers used their bench to test new players, but the result was never changing. It serves as a difficult reality check for the Curacao National Football Team, which has to iron out mistakes before the summer, and China will be buzzing to cause more upsets going forward.

indirect fk - blocked for corner

China vs Curacao Key Events

These are the key takeaways from the China vs Curacao game:

1. Yuning Zhang stars with a goal and an assist and emerges as the matchwinner for China.
2. Curacao were toothless on the ball despite dominating possession.
3. China's excellent pressure and off-the-ball shape allowed them to spring purposeful counters.

China Player Ratings vs Curacao

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Curacao Player Ratings vs China

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Player of the Match

Yuning Zhang is SportsDunia's Player of the Match for China vs Curacao.