Guangzhou FC became the highlight of the Garuda International Cup (GIC) 2024, a youth football tournament.
The Chinese club displayed such dominant performance that they advanced smoothly to the final.
It is known that Guangzhou FC secured a ticket to the GIC 2024 final thanks to consecutive victories over Thailand’s Vachiralai United in the quarterfinals (8-0) and Indonesia’s Top Skor in the semifinals (1-0).
Earlier, Guangzhou FC first dominated the group stage. They topped Group A after defeating the host ASIOP Merah (1-0), Woodland Warrior (3-0), and Garuda Lampung (5-0).
It was revealed that Guangzhou FC was strengthened by three players who recently participated in the selection for the China U-17 national team. They are Guo Wuyue (midfielder), Fan Mengtong (goalkeeper), and Chi Weilin (defender).
These three players have been the backbone of Guangzhou FC at GIC 2024. Guo Wuyue, in particular, became the key player in securing the victory over Top Skor Indonesia with the only goal in the semifinal on Saturday (August 24, 2024).
Regarding the GIC tournament, Guo Wuyue feels fortunate to have the opportunity to test his skills against other countries by participating in this youth football competition in Indonesia. He is very enthusiastic about gaining experience in this tournament.
“This is the first time I have experienced the atmosphere of a football match abroad. It’s really exciting to gain new experiences, and the facilities here are also excellent,” said Guo Wuyue to the media at ATG Sentul.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Fan Mengtong also expressed his happiness at having the opportunity to play in an international tournament outside of China. He was able to adapt to Indonesia’s typically hot and sunny weather during the day.
“Honestly, the weather here is cooler because the summer in China is much hotter. I am also happy to have come to this match,” he added.
Another potential Chinese national team player, Chi Weilin, admitted that he has developed a taste for Indonesian cuisine. He also felt comfortable thanks to the tournament staff’s readiness to assist them at any time.
“I hadn’t tried any of the food here before. The staff here have been very helpful. They work well to meet our needs,” said the tall defender who idolizes Manchester City player Ruben Dias.
In the GIC 2024 final, Guangzhou FC will face the host ASIOP Merah on Sunday (August 25, 2024). This match will also be a repeat of the opening game two days ago, which the visiting team won with a narrow 1-0 score on Thursday (August 22, 2024).