ZHUHAI, China, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- A goalless draw with Tajikistan was enough for Syria to lift the trophy, while China beat Mali 3-0 to finish runners-up in Zhuhai U22 tournament here on Saturday.
With two wins in hand before today's match, Syria needed only a draw to stand on the top podium and they did it with ease.
China played an offensive match against Mali. Zhang Yuning's header broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Chen Binbin doubled the lead for the host in the 41st minute. An own goal for Mali in the 61st minute sealed the victory for China.
Zhang nearly scored six minutes after the kick-off, only to see the keeper deny his left-footed attempt. But he didn't wait long to open the scoring: in the 24th minute, Dilimulati's cross found the 22-year old, who dived to head the ball into the up corner.
China doubled the lead five minutes before the halftime break when Chen Binbin netted before an open goal after beating the onrushing keeper.
A corner cross forced Mali into an own goal, which helped China to seal the win in the 61st minute.
