Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Sharjah: A priceless second half penalty from midfielder Zhang Xizhe took China through to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup on goal difference along with opponents Iraq despite losing Wednesday’s Group C showdown 3-1 in Sharjah.
Needing to avoid defeat in the Group C finale to guarantee a place at the continental championships, former finalists China were rocked by a brace of first half goals from Iraq striker Younus Mahmood.
Ali Adnan then fired in a third for 2007 champions Iraq before the hour mark, but substitute Zhang’s crucial finish from the penalty spot 15 minutes later meant Lebanon’s 5-2 victory over Thailand in Group B fell short of denying China progress alongside Group C runners-up Iraq as Alain Perrin’s side claimed their place in the March 26 draw as the best third place finisher across all five groups.
“We won with a big result and I was confident that we will qualify because we had fighting players who managed to beat a strong opponent thanks to their good experience. We controlled the first half and ended it with a good lead,” said Iraq coach Hakeem Shakir.
“In the second period, China pulled a goal back and that was natural as our players were playing more defensive. However, we were the better side and we deserved to qualify for the finals and hopefully we can continue our good performances.”
A dramatic game began with Iraq on top from the start with 2013 AFC Young Player of the Year Adnan eager to test China goalkeeper Yang Zhi from range, unleashing a shot just after 10 minutes that flashed wide.
Iraq continued to press and their domination paid off midway through the first period as a pass from 2012 AFC Young Player of the Year Mohanad Abdulraheem bisected the China defence with the slide-rule pass sending Mahmood in the clear to finish with aplomb past Yang.
The visitors replied through half-chances for Wang Yongpo and Yu Dabao as China tried to reassert themselves in the game with their campaign hanging in the balance, but it was Iraq who doubled their lead three minutes before half-time.
A pullback from 2014 AFC U-22 Championship MVP Amjed Kalaf was met with a shot from Ahmed Yaseen from close-range that was blocked by China custodian Yang, but the ball rebounded only as far as Mahmood who slammed in his second.
And with Lebanon leading 3-1 at half-time in Bangkok, China needed to create some distance between themselves and the West Asians in the second half.
But after the restart further disaster struck as Adnan burst in from the left flank and his vicious cross-cum-shot deceived Yang to rocket into the top corner from an acute angle.
China, though, managed to make the crucial breakthrough with 18 minutes remaining as Yu Hanchao was fouled inside the penalty area, giving Zhang a chance from the spot which he coolly converted low past Jalal Hassan’s outstretched right hand.
And then just three minutes later in Bangkok, Thailand midfielder Adisak Kraisorn netted the final goal of another enthralling contest to end Lebanon’s hopes of denying China as Perrin’s side squeezed through by the narrowest of margins.
“We played the match with two souls. The first one was on the pitch and the second was outside it as we were monitoring the other results of the other matches in order to see if we can finish as the best third placed team in the qualifiers and this is what happened,” said coach Perrin.
“Iraq controlled the first half and they scored two goals while we were the better side in the second period, we pulled a goal back and could have scored more. We must now work more and do some changes for a better future.”