China lost 2-0 to defending champions Japan in the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, also known as the East Asian Cup, in Yongin, South Korea on Saturday.

Japan opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Mao Hosoya latched onto Satoshi Tanaka's pass to fire home with a quick turn and strike. Six minutes later, China's Zhang Yuning broke through one-on-one but saw his shot saved, with Wei Shihao sending the rebound wide.

In the 63rd minute, Henry Heroki Mochizuki added Japan's second with a powerful long-range effort, sealing the victory.

China's defeat comes after the team had lost 3-0 to hosts South Korea in the tournament's opening game on July 7.

After the match, Zhang said the team had adjusted well physically following their first game. "Overall, we felt lighter on our feet and more aggressive defensively today. Most importantly, matches like this are valuable experience for the younger players – it's a great opportunity for them to grow by playing on a big stage," he said.

China's caretaker coach Dejan Djurdjevic said the tournament marked a new beginning for the national team. "We've brought in many new players during this cycle. While we can't say we're satisfied, we've seen promising signs," he said, noting that some young players have shown their skills on the field, indicating a clear direction for the future development of the national team.