China target win against Vietnamese
HONG KONG: Two games into the final phase of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers and China are already facing a must-win game against Vietnam today as Li Tie’s team look to avoid becoming also-rans in the quest for places at Qatar 2022.
Back-to-back defeats against Australia and Japan were not unexpected in their opening matches in Group B.
Despite boasting Espanyol’s Wu Lei and Brazilian-born Elkeson in attack, the side failed to register an attempt on goal in 180 minutes of football and the pressure is building on former Everton midfielder Li.
That pressure will ratchet up significantly if they do not beat Vietnam today in the United Arab Emirates, where the match is taking place because of the coronavirus. China then face Saudi Arabia next week.
China and Vietnam occupy the bottom two places of the six-nation Group B table.
Only the teams that finish in the top two in Group A and Group B are guaranteed to reach Qatar.
Two rounds of matches over the next two weeks will go a long way to deciding who books their tickets for 2022.
China’s talisman Wu came on as a substitute in Espanyol’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid in La Liga.
Australia and Saudi Arabia lead Group B on six points from two games, with Oman and Japan both on three points.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan travel to Saudi Arabia while Australia take on Oman looking for an 11th consecutive win in the 2022 qualifying round.
Iran lead the way with the only perfect record in Group A and play Bert van Marwijk’s UAE in Dubai.
Second-placed South Korea will host Syria without the services of Kwon Chang-Hoon.
Iraq are hoping to pick up their first win of the campaign against Lebanon when the teams meet in Doha. REUTERS/