China's Cup fate hangs in balance
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 20, 2013
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China midfielder Huang Bowen fires a free-kick during the Asian Cup qualifier against SaudiArabia in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, yesterday. |
China missed an opportunity to seal their spot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as they were held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia in Xi'an on Tuesday.
China must wait until its tough final qualifier away to Iraq in March before learning if it will make it to its 11th successive Asian Cup.
While the draw ended Saudi Arabia's 100% record in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, it ensured that they will finish in first place in Group C.
China remained second but with third-placed Iraq beating Indonesia 2-0 in Jakarta, it must avoid defeat when they meet in its final group game to secure its passage to Australia.
China, led by caretaker manager Fu Bo and watched by his possible successor, Guangzhou Evergrande boss Marcello Lippi, did all the running in Xi'an but failed to deliver the killer blow. Guangzhou right-back Zhang Linpeng had a strong late penalty shout turned down and his club teammate Huang Bowen put a free-kick inches wide with the last kick of the game.
The Saudis had booked their place in the finals after a 2-1 win over Iraq in Dammam last Friday but they had the first real chance in the game after 10 minutes when Chinagoalkeeper Zeng Cheng was called into action to deny Salem Al Dawsari low at his near post.
China were then denied an almost certain opener six minutes later as Jiang Ning raced onto a long ball over the top, but with the midfielder about to shoot after progressing into the penalty area, Hassan Fallatah produced a superbly timed last-ditch tackle to deny him.
The hosts exerted much of the first-half pressure and in the 33rd minute Zhang Xizhe floated in a free-kick from the right which picked out an unmarked Liu Jian who could only send his free-kick high over the crossbar.
The home side continued to dominate after the interval with Sun Xiang forcing a reflex save out of goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah while Gao Lin and Zheng Zhi both sent efforts over the target.
Abdullah was called into action to stop a free-kick by Sun in the 77th minute before the defender drilled another free-kick just wide with three minutes left. China had a case for a penalty when Zhang Linpeng appeared to be brought down by Mansour Al Harbi in the box as the game entered stoppage time but it was turned down.
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