China roars into Asian Cup last 8 after Thai victory
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China flirted with disaster before mounting a second-half revival as it fought back from behind to beat Thailand 2-1 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals yesterday.
The giant nation was all at sea as it fell behind to Supachai Jaided’s opener in al-Ain but it hit back after the break through substitute Xiao Zhi and Gao Lin’s well-taken penalty.
It meant China lives to fight another day under Marcello Lippi, who is expected to step down after the Asian Cup, while Thailand exits with its head held high.
China will face either Iran or Oman in the quarterfinal as it bids to end a 15-year absence from Asian Cup semifinals. China’s national team has often fallen short despite the country’s long-term ambitions of becoming a soccer superpower and the wealth of Chinese clubs. China has only qualified for the World Cup once, losing all its games in 2002, and lost its only Asian Cup final to Japan two years later.
In an open start, Theerathon Bunmathan saw a free kick tipped over and Wu Lei had an attempt smothered by Thai goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen before Thailand went ahead on 31 minutes.
From a corner, in front of Thailand’s drumming and singing fans, Thitiphan Puangjan’s miscued shot fell to Jaided, who turned and rammed it past Chinese goalie Yan Junling from close range.
The chances were falling thick and fast for Thailand and Chanathip Songkrasin was adjudged to have fouled Feng Xiaoting as he jinked his way into a scoring opportunity.
China looked distinctly rattled, but it nearly hit back just before half-time when Yu Dabao flashed his header wide from Hao Junmin’s free kick.
China’s star man Wu, who missed its final group game with a shoulder injury, missed a series of chances after half-time.
But China was piercing the Thai defense again and again and on the hour mark, only Siwarak’s legs preserved Thailand’s lead when he parried Yu’s goal-bound shot from point-blank range.
China finally scored midway through the second half when substitute forward Xiao, three minutes after coming on, headed straight at Siwarak before prodding home the rebound.
The onslaught didn’t stop and after Gao was brought down by Chalermpong Kerdkaew, he nervelessly swept the spot-kick high into the net for a 2-1 lead.
Thailand wasn’t going down without a fight and in injury time, Teerasil Dangda wasted a good chance and Pansa Hemviboon had Yan at full stretch with a powerful shot.
But ultimately it was China which joined Vietnam in the last eight, after the Southeast Asian champion stunned Jordan on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw.
It ends a rollercoaster tournament for Thailand, which sacked coach Milovan Rajevac after a 1-4 drubbing by India but recovered to reach the last 16.
In Dubai, Vietnam’s young guns guaranteed another night of frenzied celebrations back home when it beat Jordan 4-2 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals after extra time had failed to break the 1-1 deadlock.
It was a first knockout victory at the continental championship for Vietnam and set up a meeting with Japan or Saudi Arabia, both former champions, at the same stadium on Thursday.
The match had finished all square after Jordan’s Baha Abdelrahman scored from an indirect free kick in the first half and Nguyen Cong Phuong equalized with a volley six minutes after the break.
Vietnam’s Russian-born goalkeeper Dang Van Lam was the hero of the shootout after he dived low to his right to save Ahmad Saleh’s effort, allowing Bui Tien Dung to coolly convert his spot kick for the victory.
“We got through to the round of 16 by the narrowest of margins so I really appreciate the players, they really did their best today,” Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo said. “We don’t get as much support as other richer countries but we are one team and we fight together.”
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