중국은 12일(이하 한국시간) 새벽 유트레히트에서 열린 B조 1차전에서 인저리 타임에 터진 자오쉬리의 결승골에 힘입어 2-1 승리를 거두고 16강 진출에 파란불을 켰다. 

중국은 전반 21분 탄왕송의 선제골로 앞서 나갔지만 후반 40분 굴레치에게 동점골을 허용했다. 그러나 중국은 후반 교체 투입된 자오쉬리가 경기 종료 1분을 남겨두고 극적인 결승골을 터트린 데 힘입어 첫 경기서 같은 조의 최강팀을 꺾는 이변을 연출했다. 

오른쪽에서 올라온 코너킥을 터키 골키퍼가 펀칭으로 쳐낸 것을 문전 30여m 전방에 있던 자오쉬리가 그대로 슈팅, 터키 골문 오른쪽 구석에 꽂히는 통렬한 결승골을 터트린 것. 

중국은 이로써 우크라이나 파나마전에서 승점 1점을 추가할 경우 16강에 오를 수 있는 유리한 고지에 올랐다. 같은 조의 우크라이나는 파나마를 3-1로 물리쳤다. 

한편 한국이 속한 F조와 함께 ‘죽음의 조’로 꼽히는 D조 예선에서는 ‘신흥강호’ 미국이 아르헨티나를 1-0으로 격침시키며 파란을 몰고 왔다. 

미국은 전반 39분 채드 배럿의 헤딩골로 1-0으로 앞서갔고 후반 25분 프레디 아두가 페널티킥을 실축, 점수 차를 벌릴 기회를 놓쳤지만 아르헨티나의 파상 공세를 잘 막아내며 귀중한 1승을 올렸다. 

아르헨티나는 미드필드에서의 우위에도 불구, 골 결정력 부족으로 고배를 들었고 전반 19분 구스타보 오베르만의 슈팅이 골포스트를 맞는 등 골운도 따르지 않았다. 프레디 아두와의 ‘신동대결’로 관심을 모은 아르헨티나의 스타플레이어 라이오넬 메시는 후반 교체 투입됐지만 이렇다 할 활약을 보여주지 못했다. 

한편 같은 조의 독일은 이집트를 2-0으로 꺾고 서전을 장식했고 C조의 칠레는 온두라스를 7-0, 스페인은 모로코를 3-1로 꺾었다. 
 
Last-gasp Chinese stun Turks (1:2) 
(FIFA.com) 11 Jun 2005  
 
Goals Scored: TAN Wangsong (CHN) 22' , GULEC Gokhan (TUR) 84' , ZHAO Xuri (CHN) 95' 

Tao Zheng and Ergin Keles battle for possession in China's 2-1 win over Turkey. Lee Mills ACTION IMAGES  
  
A late winner deep into injury time from second half substitute Zhao Xuri saw a sparkling China overcome heavyweights Turkey in the opening game of Group B in the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 at the Galgenwaard Stadium in the central Dutch city of Utrecht.  
  
China took the lead through Tan Wangsong after 21 minutes and Turkey rallied to score a late equalizer through Gokhan Gulec. But substitute Zhao Xuri scored a world-class winner in the last minute of injury time to earn China a deserved 2-1 victory. 
  
China's coach Echhard Krautzun, was happy with his players afterwards: "Turkey were faster than us in the second half and did cause us some headaches. But our players continued to fight with zest and we were rewarded in the last minute." 
  
The game started at a fast pace as the two sides created an impressive tempo in the opening minutes. It was the less fancied Chinese side who looked the brighter side early on, sounding their intentions with a 20-metre shot from Zhou Hiabin in the opening minute. 
  
Turkey hit back only two minutes later. Sezer Ozturk found space in front of China's area but the Bayer Leverkusen prodigy could only pull his low drive wide of the far post. The 19-year-old was the centre of another Turkey attack afterwards but he sent his free kick screaming over the bar. 
  
After the early exchanges, the match continued to be tense as the pacy forwards on each side caused problems. The Asians looked dangerous after six minutes when a Chen Tao cross from the left was lobbed into the area, but Turkey keeper Serkan Kirintili was quick off his line to save before a flying Gao Lin. Four minutes later, Gao Lin was brought down on the right and Chen Tao flicked the resulting free-kick into Turkey's box, but again Kirintili rushed out to clear. 
  
Turkey should have taken the lead after 17 minutes, when a rampaging Sezer broke on the right before firing in a cross which found Ergin Keles, but the Trabzonspor forward's blistering shot was straight at China's keeper Yang Cheng. 
  
China continued to press forward and their attacking efforts paid dividends when Tan Wangsong put the Asians ahead after 21 minutes. Forward Zhu Ting's cut back from the goal line found the feet of Tan Wangsong. The Sichuan Guancheng player beat one Turkish defender to find enough space on the edge of the area before whipping the ball into the roof of the net (1:0, 21').  
  
The well-prepared Chinese also looked solid at the back. The best chance for the Europeans came in the 36th minute. Hakan Aslantas lobbed a ball into the area and Ali Ozturk, with only the goalkeeper to beat, pulled his shot over. 
  
With the first half time coming to a close, there were more chances for China. First captain Feng Xiaoting set up Zhu Ting on the edge of the Turkey area, but again Kirintili showed his reflexes to deny the No 11. Then, Zhu Ting shot at the Turkey keeper from close range. Two minutes from the break, Kirintily's clearance fell into the path of Tan Wangsong but the Chinese hero's shot was deflected wide. 
  
Turkey quickened their rhythm after the interval in desperate search of the equalizer with Kerim on for Ali Ozturk. They should have levelled the game eight minutes into the second half, Selcuk Inan picking up a pass on the left of China's box, turning well to snap a shot just wide of the far post.  
  
Turkey's Sezer Ozturk tries to burst between Tao Zheng and Lin Gao in his side's 2-1 defeat. (ACTION IMAGES) Lee Mills  
  
Another Turkey chance followed in the 61st minute. The Chinese keeper could only punch out a cross, Sezer took it down and chipped onto the bar from the edge of the area with the goal open. Substitute Kerim Zengin could not force in the rebound. 
  
The European's efforts finally bore fruit with only five minutes remaining. Turkey launched a counter-attack - Burak Yimaz cutting into the area but seeing his close range shot just cleared by Yang Cheng. Captain Gokhan Gulec ghosted in to slot the half-clearance past the stranded keeper (1:1, 85'). 
  
With Turkey appearing happy to play out the remaining time, the Chinese upped the tempo in the final minutes. Second half substitute Dong Fangzhuo fired a last-minute sizzling shot from a tight angle on the right but it was fantastically turned wide by Kirintili. 
  
And with one minute of injury time remaining, second half substitute Zhao Xuri sealed the 2-1 victory for China with a world-class volley. A corner from the right was punched far out of the area by Kirintili and Zhao Xuri hit a rocket shot into the top left corner of Turkey goal from 25 yards out. 
  
Losing coach Senol Ustaomer couldn't conceal his disappointment after the match. "I would say both teams played very well and our opponents scored their winner thanks to a little good fortune. But I would like to extend my congratulations to them."