Wang Shuang powers China to 5-1 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening win

Wang Shuang scored a brace and bagged two assists as China began its women's football campaign at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a 5-1 thrashing of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday.

China controlled much of the opening half and took the lead after 14 minutes.

Former PSG and Tottenham winger Wang Shuang helped create space for Chen Qiaozhu on the edge of the penalty area, and the defender fired a long-range effort into the goal.

The HKSAR responded in the 31st minute as Cheung Wai Ki took advantage of a defensive mix-up to equalize.

China regained the lead seven minutes later when Si Yu met Zhang Rui's corner with a header at the near post, sending her side into half-time with a 2-1 lead.

China dominated the second half and put the result beyond doubt, with substitute Wang Yanwen making an immediate impact.

Three minutes after coming on, she raced onto Wang Shuang's lofted pass from midfield before finishing to extend the lead to 3-1.

Wang Shuang then went from assist provider to goal scorer herself.

She struck from a tight angle in the 79th minute, with the ball taking a deflection on its way in.

The veteran added her second in the 89th minute as China probed around the opposition penalty area.

The 31-year-old finished the match having been directly involved in four of China's five goals.

She stressed afterwards that the result mattered more than her individual contribution and highlighted patience as an important quality of the team.

China are competing in Group G alongside the HKSAR, Uzbekistan and the Philippines.

The Philippines and Uzbekistan drew 1-1 in their opening match, leaving China as the only team in the group to collect three points in the first round of fixtures.