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China’s 2018 hopes hit with draw
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MARCELLO Lippi’s hopes of leading China to the next World Cup received a serious blow when it was held 0-0 by a resolute Qatar in Kunming, Yunnan Province, yesterday.
Lippi is tasked with setting China on the road to football greatness but there was no dream start for the Italian in his first game in charge.
Instead China remains rooted to the foot of Group A with two points from five games and scant hopes of reaching Russia 2018 even with Lippi, who coached Italy to the 2006 World Cup title.
A packed Kunming crowd came with high expectations but Qatar’s Andres Quintana caused early panic before his attempt from a corner went wide.
China’s Jiang Zhipeng’s long-range free-kick nearly caught Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb napping before Wu Lei also drove a fierce shot narrowly off-target.
China continued to carve out chances after the break and Qatar had Al Sheeb’s instinctive save to thank when he tipped Wu Xi’s diving header over the bar.
Substitute Cao Yunding hit the side netting but China was unable to craft the breakthrough against 2022 World Cup host Qatar, which stays second from bottom on five points.
In Saitama, Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a foul-tempered qualifier as a debatable Hiroshi Kiyotake penalty boosted its hopes of qualifying for a sixth successive World Cup in 2018.
The Blue Samurai drew level with the Group B leaders on 10 points after a tempestuous clash with Kiyotake’s spot kick and a Genki Haraguchi effort eased the pressure on under-fire coach Vahid Halilhodzic.
Saudi Arabia pulled a late goal back through Omar Othman but it was not enough for the visitors to rescue a draw.
Kiyotake converted on the stroke of half-time after Saudi defender Abdulmalek Al Khaibri was adjudged to have handled, despite replays showing Kiyotake’s initial shot had struck him in the chest.
The Saudis protested furiously to referee Muhammad bin Jahari of Singapore and scuffles broke out between the players, which continued as they disappeared down the tunnel at the interval.
In Seoul, Koo Ja-cheol’s late winner spared South Korea’s blushes as the host came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 2-1.
The FC Augsburg midfielder rifled home in the 85th minute, much to the relief of Korea’s fans and coach Uli Steilike whose evening had threatened to end in disaster.
Marat Bikmaev had given the Uzbeks a shock lead but South Korea levelled through Nam Tae-hee before Koo’s clincher put them level on points with Group A leader Iran, which was playing Syria later.
Bikmaev pounced on a defensive howler in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had to charge out of his box to clear a loose ball, only for his effort to drop straight to the Uzbek. Bikmaev took his chance beautifully as his long-range chip sailed over the backpedalling Korean goalkeeper and defenders, and straight into the host’s goal.
Nam broke through in the 67th minute after a deep cross from Park Joo-Ho. With five minutes left, towering forward Kim Shin-wook headed down a cross for Koo, who drove it past goalkeeper Aleksandr Lobanov to complete the comeback.
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