Nantong Zhiyun U20 1–2 Wuhan Three Towns U20: Late Drama Seals Away Win

In an entertaining encounter at the Nantong Sports Centre, Wuhan Three Towns U20 edged past Nantong Zhiyun U20 with a 2–1 victory on July 1, 2026. The match, part of the Chinese Football Association U-21 League, showcased the emerging talents from both academies in a contest that swung one way and then the other.

Wuhan Three Towns started brightly, dominating possession in the opening exchanges. Their pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when forward Liu Xiang smashed home a half-volley from the edge of the box after a corner was only partially cleared. Nantong Zhiyun responded well and leveled just before half-time: a swift counter-attack saw winger Chen Yu cut inside and curl a precise shot into the far corner.

The second half was a tightly contested affair. Nantong Zhiyun had chances to take the lead, notably when striker He Jie headed narrowly over from a free-kick. However, it was Wuhan Three Towns who found the decisive goal in the 78th minute. Substitute midfielder Zhao Peng latched onto a through ball, held off his marker, and slotted calmly past the Nantong goalkeeper.

Despite late pressure from Nantong, Wuhan Three Towns held firm to claim all three points. The result keeps Wuhan in the upper half of the U-21 league standings, while Nantong Zhiyun will rue missed opportunities as they look to climb away from the relegation zone.

Key performers: For Wuhan, goalscorer Liu Xiang was a constant threat, while captain Huang Lei marshalled the defence with authority. Nantong will take heart from the performance of Chen Yu, whose goal and tireless running caused problems throughout.