Today has been a historic day for the Viareggio Cup as well as for Chinese football. For the very first time, a team from People's Republic of China has won a match at the famous youth football tournament, as China national Under-19 team overcame Paganese 1-0 in Quarrata this afternoon. Midfielder Xu Haoyang scored the decisive goal, giving an unprecedented joy to his teammates but also to Viareggio-born senior national team head coach Marcello Lippi and national Under-21 team coach Massimiliano Maddaloni, whose family lives in Viareggio.

 

China national Under-19 team made their debut in the Viareggio Cup a couple of days ago, but it is not the first time that a Chinese team participates in the tournament. Exactly 40 years ago, in 1978, the Asian country made its first, groundbreaking appearance with a youth side from Beijing who lost 3-0 to Fiorentina and 3-2 to OFK Belgrade and earned a goalless draw against then-defending champions Sampdoria. In the following year, Hebei were defeated by Juventus (5-1), Perugia (3-1) and Rijeka (4-2). Finally, in 2001 Guangdong failed to earn points as they lost to Padova (3-1), Brazilian side Vitória (4-0) and Napoli (5-1).