China stuns South Korea to keep hopes alive
Print Edition
CHINA’S hope of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia was rekindled after Italian coach Marcello Lippi-led Team Dragon beat South Korea 1-0 in Changsha, Hunan Province, yesterday.
Yu Dabao headed in a Wang Yongpo corner in the 34th minute to give the hosts their first win in six matches at the third phase of the World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers.
“Before the match, we knew the importance of winning this match. And we worked hard to get the three points we had to get. But it is not enough to win a ticket to the World Cup. We need to continue this momentum and win the following matches,” said Lippi, who will now lead China to Iran on March 28.
For goalscorer Yu and his teammates had to battle a strong opponent and mounting pressure from expectant home fans.
“We were under great pressure before the game and now we have laid a good foundation with the three points,” said Yu. “It has always been crucial to grasp whatever chances you have and thank the coach so much for believing in me.”
The victory temporarily moved China out of the bottom of the six-team Group A where Iran stands atop with 11 points from five matches, ahead of South Korea on 10 after six games. Uzbekistan sits in third with nine and Syria is fourth with eight. Qatar lies at the bottom of group after five matches.
With four games left, China, collecting five points in the provisional fifth place, still has chance to earn a qualification ticket.
The top two in Group A and Group B will advance to Russia 2018 directly after a home-and-away round-robin. The third-place finishers from both groups will have a playoff with the winner going on to face the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF zone for a berth.
“We still have space to improve. In the first half, we played too defensively faced with the opponent’s pressure. Yu’s goal from Wang’s corner was what we trained lots of times in the past week,” said Lippi. “It was not our best form and lineup. We can do better in the next match.”
China took the lead after 34 minutes when Wang’s inward curving corner found Yu at the near post. The Beijing Guo’an striker glanced a precise header into the bottom-right corner. Before halftime, Ji Dongwon was the visitors’ most dangerous player — his two shots both narrowly off target. Chinese goalkeeper Zeng Cheng, who was named Man of the Match, was forced into making several saves from Ki Sungyueng and Ji Dongwon after the break.
In other matches, Iran held Australia 1-1; Syria edged Uzbekistan 1-0 with a penalty in added time; and Saudi Arabia smashes three past hapless Thailand.
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