By Guo Yishun, Song Chong

The 2024 World University Championship Futsal concluded on June 16th with an exciting bronze medal match in the women's category. China's team triumphed over New Zealand, winning 3-1 and securing their first-ever medal in this competition.

The match kicked off at 9:30 a.m. with China aggressively attacking from the start. Six and a half minutes in, Cao Mengyun scored the first goal for China. New Zealand quickly equalized just a minute later.

Despite the swift response, China kept their cool. Around the 11.5-minute mark, Su Jiahong broke through New Zealand's defense, scoring to put China ahead 2-1 at halftime.

In the second half, New Zealand pressed hard, hitting the goalpost and narrowly missing another shot in the first few minutes. However, the Chinese defense held strong.

With just under two minutes left, Su Jiahong struck again, extending China’s lead to 3-1. China then tightened their defense, preventing any comeback from New Zealand.

“We studied our opponents thoroughly and executed our game plan well,” said Cao Mengyun after the match.

Su Jiahong, who scored twice, added, “Our team was full of energy and focus today. I’m thrilled to have contributed to our win.”

Head coach Hu Jie praised the team’s performance: “This victory is a result of the collective effort of all our players. They were outstanding today.”

This win marks a significant milestone for China in futsal, reflecting years of development and hinting at a promising future for the sport in the country.

Photos by Song Chong

Editor: Lin Yan, Shu Zhengyu