In the East Asian Cup's third round on the 15th at 3 PM Beijing time, the Chinese national team faced off against Hong Kong. In the 20th minute of the first half, Huang Zhengyu scored the first goal for Team China in 2025, leading them to a 1-0 victory over Hong Kong in a redemptive battle. With this win, the national team secured 3 points with 1 win and 2 losses, finishing third in a respectable manner in this edition of the East Asian Cup.

The starting lineup for Team China featured a return to the 4-2-3-1 formation, with goalkeeper Yan Junling making his third consecutive start. The defensive line included Wang Shicheng, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Wumitijiang, while Xu Xin partnered with Huang Zhengyu in midfield. Serginho played as the attacking midfielder, supported by Wang Yudong, Zhang Yuning, and Xie Wenneng as the front three.

Interim head coach Jurjevic candidly stated, "We focused more on making changes within ourselves. Hong Kong's level is not on par with Japan and South Korea, but that doesn't matter. If you want to win every game, you have to give 100%. My players were very focused and ready for this match."

According to official records from the Chinese Football Association, the national team has faced Hong Kong 27 times in history, boasting a record of 18 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses, scoring 48 goals while conceding 7. Their most recent encounter was a friendly match on New Year's Day last year, where they suffered a 2-1 defeat, marking their first loss to Hong Kong in 38 years. The only other loss to Hong Kong was on May 19, 1985, during a World Cup qualifier at Gongti Stadium where they were defeated 2-1.

Hong Kong has yet to earn any points in past editions of the East Asian Cup, having lost all four encounters against China previously. The team is eager to rewrite history in their battles against China. Head coach Westwood expressed his desire to win every game regardless of the opponent, emphasizing the team's hunger for victory.

Forward Ng Wing Ka mentioned his familiarity with playing against China and the team's determination to secure at least one win in this East Asian Cup after suffering two consecutive losses. In the match, China dominated early on with several chances, eventually scoring in the 20th minute through Huang Zhengyu, securing a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Throughout the second half, both teams had opportunities to score, but the score remained 1-0 until the final whistle. Despite some heated moments and missed chances, Team China managed to hold on for a narrow victory over Hong Kong, concluding their East Asian Cup campaign on a positive note.