China PR secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Kenya in their opening Group E fixture at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on Monday, October 19.
China delivered a strong second-half performance to seal all three points after taking a narrow lead into the break. Xu Yue opened the scoring in the first half before Xu Xiaotang struck twice after the interval to complete the victory.
China’s Goal Scorers
- 12th minute – Xu Yue: Yue gave China the lead after running onto a precise pass from Fang Zhenzhu and finishing into the bottom-right corner.
- 50th minute – Xu Xiaotang: Xiaotang doubled China’s advantage early in the second half, capitalising on an opportunity inside the penalty area.
- 53rd minute – Xu Xiaotang: The forward scored her second goal in quick succession, finishing from a well-delivered pass by Fang Zhenzhu to make it 3–0.
Kenya Face a Difficult Start
Kenya’s U-17 side struggled to contain China’s attacking threat, particularly after the break, when Xiaotang’s two goals in the space of three minutes put the match beyond their reach.
The Kenyan team attempted to respond through substitutions and tactical adjustments, but China maintained its advantage until the final whistle.
The defeat leaves Kenya needing a stronger performance in their remaining Group E matches to keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive.
China Begin Their Campaign in Style
The victory provided an encouraging start for China, who demonstrated their attacking quality and ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities.
Xu Xiaotang’s brace earned her the Player of the Match award, while Fang Zhenzhu played an important role in the attack by providing assists for two of China’s goals.
China will look to build on this result in their next group fixture, while Kenya must regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Full-time result: Kenya U-17 0–3 China PR U-17
Competition: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026
Group: E
China’s scorers: Xu Yue (12′), Xu Xiaotang (50′, 53′).
Player of the Match: Xu Xiaotang (China PR).
Source: FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
