CHONGQING — China opened the CFA Team China International Football Competitions Chongqing with a 3–0 victory over the Maldives on Thursday, with Wang Ziming scoring a second-half hat-trick to secure a comfortable win for the hosts.
The Maldives, missing several key players for different reasons, gave opportunities to new faces but struggled to create attacking opportunities throughout the match. The Red Snappers failed to register a single shot, highlighting the team’s difficulties in the final third.
China, meanwhile, endured a frustrating first half as they struggled to find their rhythm. The hosts recorded nine shots before the break, but only two were on target, with neither side able to break the deadlock.
Wang Ziming Strikes Three Times After the Break
China made nine changes at half-time, and the adjustments quickly produced results.
In the 50th minute, substitute Wang Shangyuan threaded a through ball into the path of Wang Ziming. The forward raced clear before firing a low shot into the net to give China the lead.
Six minutes later, China doubled their advantage. Substitute Chen Pu delivered a cross into the box, allowing Wang Ziming to rise and head the ball home for his second goal of the night.
Wang completed his hat-trick on the hour mark. Following a cross from the flank by Wang Gengrui, he produced a composed finish from close range near the six-yard box to complete the scoring.
The match also provided opportunities for several players to make their senior international debuts. High school student Zhao Songyuan made history by becoming the youngest player ever to represent China’s men’s national team.
China Maintain Perfect Record Against Maldives
The victory extended China’s impressive record against the Maldives. China have now won all seven meetings between the two teams.
The latest encounter was the first meeting between the sides since 2021. In their previous clash, China recorded a 5–0 victory over the Maldives.
The result in Chongqing continues China’s dominance in the fixture, while the Maldives will look to address their attacking shortcomings ahead of their upcoming matches.
Maldives Prepare for Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon
The Maldives are scheduled to face Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon in the coming days as their international campaign continues.
China, meanwhile, will take on Palestine, Tajikistan and New Zealand in their upcoming fixtures.
For the Maldives, the Chongqing opener provided valuable exposure for new players, but the team will need to improve its attacking output and overall creativity as it prepares for the next stage of competition.
