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AFC Asian Qualifiers
China will remain in the driving seat going into the final round of fixtures with a three-point advantage and Thailand needing to overcome an inferior goal difference. However, China will have the more testing tie with a visit to group winners Korea Republic, while Thailand host bottom side Singapore.
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It was a physical start to proceedings at Shenyang Olympic Centre with both teams picking up early bookings for right-backs Wang Zhen’ao and Suphanan Bureerat early on.
But it was the visitors who wrested control of the game after the opening 10 minutes with Supachai Chaided seeing an effort blocked before Wang Dalei denied his shot from range.
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The forward had more success as provider than scorer on 20 minutes, though, as he got to the left byline and crossing into the area where he found the head of Supachok Sarachat who converted from point-blank range to put Thailand in front.
The hosts replied through Wei Shihao’s free-kick from the edge of the box that Patiwat Khammai was forced to turn behind just before the half hour mark.
Thailand finished the half the stronger, however, and Sarach Yooyen rattled the top of the crossbar with a thunderous strike from 30 yards out, before Suphanat Mueanta also hit the woodwork in first half stoppage time as his shot across Wang Dalei hit the foot of the far post and bounced out.
China had a golden chance to draw level just four minutes after the restart when Kritsada Kaman was penalised for a handball in the area, but Fei Nanduo was unable to convert the resulting spot-kick as he blazed his attempt over the bar.
On 70 minutes, Fei Nanduo looked to make amends for his penalty miss when he rounded Patiwat, but, off-balance and faced with an acute angle, opted to cut the ball back into the area and was unable to find a teammate.
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Nevertheless, China did find their equaliser with 11 minutes of the tie remaining.
Thailand had been forced to change their goalkeeper due to an injury to Patiwat and the first action Saranon Anuin was faced with was picking the ball out of his net.
A free-kick into the area was prodded further into the danger zone by Zhu Chenjie’s header where substitute Behram Abduweli was lurking to powered home a volley from close range on his debut.
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Suphanat could have put Thailand back in front in stoppage time but was unable to turn his header on target, before his older brother Supachok cut inside from them left flank and drew Wang Dalei into a flying save to tip off the bar.
Instead of a dramatic finish in Shenyang, all eyes will now turn to Tuesday’s ties and a thrilling finale to Group C.
