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China U-19 draw 1-1 with Real Madrid U-17 in Weifang Cup opener

Xinhua, July 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

The U-19 Chinese National Team drew 1-1 with Real Madrid Youth Academy B Team here on Sunday in the opener of the 10th Luneng Weifang Cup International Youth Football Tournament.

Each team seized an opportunity from the corner kick.

The Chinese side, whose average age is two years older than their Spanish opponents, played more aggressively during the first half. They took the lead in the 21st minute when Real Madrid's goalkeeper failed to punch out a corner kick and Gao Huaze's close-range shot found the net.

The Spaniards' best chance in the first half came in the 26th minute as the Chinese goalkeeper failed to hold a free-kick from Real Madrid captain Adrian de la Fuente Barquilla, but two consecutive following shots by Barquilla's teammates all missed the target.

In a determined attempt to level the score, the La Liga giant sent on more players on the attacking line when the second half kicked off, and in the 58th minute, Barquilla headed in a corner from Agmir Mohamed Moukhliss.

The Chinese side resumed their control over the game during the last 20 minutes as Barguilla received his second yellow card and was consequently sent off after he pulled down China's Gao Haisheng, who otherwise could have got a one-on-one opportunity. The scoreboard remained unchanged until the final whistle was blown.

Real Madrid coach Daniel Poyatos Algaba said after the game that this was a "very big game" for his side and that the Chinese team were very good.

"For us it is very difficult because we only trained for four days ... but the second half was very good for us (in the sense that) we had many chances to score," he said, adding that he was "very happy" about the result.

Li Ming, coach of China U-19, said his players played better in the first half, but when the opponents changed tactics in the second half, they lacked the ability to cope with it.

"Real Madrid have amassed the most excellent players who are fully confident and who have clear goals, so we have to give them as much pressure as we can," Li said. Enditem