Baihelamu Abuduwaili celebrates after scoring during the Chinese national under-22 team's match against their South Korean counterparts on November 15, 2025, in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Photo: VCG

Two goals from striker Baihelamu Abuduwaili helped the Chinese national under-22 football team secure a rare 2-0 win over South Korea at the Panda Cup friendly series. 

Under the gaze of new senior national team head coach Shao Jiayi, the Chinese under-22 team, bouncing back from a 1-0 defeat to their Vietnamese counterparts on Wednesday, was the dominant side in attack.

The win has boosted the team's confidence against South Korean counterparts, said Liu Haofan, captain of the Chinese under-22 team. 

"After losing the first match, we all felt that we had to win this one. Everyone came in with a strong desire and fighting spirit," Liu said after the match. 

"It definitely gives us more confidence as we prepare for the Asian Cup. South Korea are a strong team at every age level," Liu said.

Chinese national football teams do not have a good record against their South Korean counterparts, as the so-called "Koreanphobia" has beset Chinese football for decades.

The Chinese under-22 team will play Uzbekistan Tuesday at Shuangliu Sports Center in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

For 22-year-old forward Baihelamu, the game also showcased his form at national-team level, as he has scored seven goals in nine appearances for various Chinese youth teams. However, he has not scoredin the Chinese Super League this season for his club Shenzhen Peng City despite making 19 appearances.

This year's Panda Cup features China, South Korea, Vietnam and Uzbekistan, all teams which qualified for the U-23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.