In a nail-biting match that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Chinese mainland's national football team rescued a 1-1 draw against Thailand in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, on Thursday.
The game kicked off with high stakes, as China aimed to secure their spot in the final stage of Asian qualifying. But it was Thailand who struck first. In the 20th minute, Supachai Chaided made a swift move down the left flank, delivering a perfect cross to Supachok Sarachat, who headed the ball into the net. 😱
China almost equalized moments later when A Lan's powerful strike hit the post, and Fei Nanduo's rebound was heroically saved by Thailand's goalkeeper. Sensing the urgency, Coach Branko Ivankovic brought on the 21-year-old sensation Behram Abduweli in the 28th minute. 🎯
The first half saw Thailand dominating with 10 shots and rattling the woodwork twice. The pressure was on! In the second half, China had a golden opportunity to level the score with a penalty after a handball by Kritsada Kaman. However, fate wasn't on Fei Nanduo's side as he missed the spot-kick. 😬
But the Chinese fans didn't have to wait too long for redemption. In the 79th minute, Behram Abduweli, making his international debut, volleyed home a headed pass from Zhu Chenjie after a free-kick by Xie Pengfei. The stadium erupted in cheers as the scoreboard leveled. 🥳
Despite several late attempts and playing long balls into the Thai defense, China couldn't find the winning goal. Coach Ivankovic acknowledged the team's effort, saying, \"It was a great pity that we couldn't win the match. My players were under great pressure, and they tried their best. As a professional coach, I need to take responsibility for everything on the pitch.\"
He praised the young talents like Behram, Xie Wenneng, Wang Zhenao, and Xu Haoyang for their impressive performances. \"We need to be more patient to organize our offense,\" he added.
On the other side, Thailand's coach Masatada Ishii shared his mixed feelings: \"We had many chances but didn't fulfill our target.\"
Meanwhile, in the other Group C match, the Republic of Korea showcased their dominance by smashing Singapore 7-0, securing their place in the final stage as group leaders. 🔥
Looking ahead, China will face a tough challenge as they visit the Republic of Korea next Tuesday. They need at least a point to advance. \"For us, the qualifying tournament isn't over yet. We will go all out in the next match and try to qualify for the next round,\" Ivankovic declared with determination. 💪
Can China's mix of seasoned players and rising stars make it to the next stage? One thing's for sure—the journey is just heating up! ⚡
Reference(s):
China rescue 1-1 draw at home to Thailand in 2026 World Cup qualifier
cgtn.com
