Chinese fans were left dreaming of World Cup glory on Wednesday as they moved into the final stage of the Asia qualifiers for the first time in 15 years with a miracle 2-0 victory against Qatar.
XIAN, March 29, 2016 (Xinhua) -- China's Feng Xiaoting (L) vies with Qatar's Rodrigo Barbosa Taba during the Group C Round 2 match of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, March 29, 2016. China won the match 2-0. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
Over 40,000 Chinese fans showed up at the Shanxi Province Stadium in Xi'an on Tuesday. The blessed place for the Chinese National football team and all football fans across the country.
As that's where China scrambled into Asia's final qualifying stage with a shock 2-0 win against Qatar, victors in all seven of their previous games in Group C.
China broke the deadlock in the 57th minute after the visitors' failure to clear their lines, and that allowed Huang Bowen to pounce on a loose ball on the edge of the box and drill a low shot into the bottom corner.
"That was freaking cool. I think it was one of the most important goals for me so far. I'm so happy,"
"I think it's the last chance to grab a chance to march in the World cup. I decided to get fully prepared for the following matches," said Huang Bowen, a team player.
And as the Qataris pushed more and more men forward in the final stages of the game, Chinese players were able to capitalise on their lack of defenders.
Wu Lei's darting run into the box was picked out by an incisive pass from Hao Junmin one minute from time to take the score to 2-0. This goal not only secured China's victory but also proves the strategy proposed by Mr Gao Hongbo was bold and wise.
XIAN, March 29, 2016 (Xinhua) -- China's Feng Xiaoting (L) vies with Qatar's Rodrigo Barbosa Taba during the Group C Round 2 match of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Preliminary Joint Qualification in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, March 29, 2016. China won the match 2-0. (Xinhua/Cao Can)
"I must express my gratitude to the whole team, I think they have performed regularly, and our national team does have some strength. With the 20-year-long development, we have witnessed rapid progress in football values, and team strategies,"
"I think today's win is just a regular success. We are convinced that the Chinese National football team will perform better and go further," said Gao Hongbo, Coach of Chinese Nantional Football Team.
This win, combined with the surprise result in Manila, Australia's victory over Jordan and Iran's defeat of Oman, meant China's team went through as one of the four best-performing group runners-up. It was an outcome which seemed unthinkable after November's 0-0 draw with Hong Kong.
The draw of the last 12 will be held on April 12. The 12 teams will be divided into 2 groups with the top two of each group marching in to Russia in the end.
Finger crossed for all of them.
