In a thrilling AFC qualifier in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in the Chinese mainland, China's football squad faced a setback, losing 2-0 to Australia. The match, attended by a record 70,588 fans, offered plenty of nail-biting moments ⚽.
Australia struck early when Jackson Irvine capitalized on a slip by Huang Zhengyu, firing a shot into the far corner just 16 minutes into the game. The visitors doubled their lead in the 29th minute as Nishan Velupillay exploited a mistake by goalkeeper Wang Dalei with a close-range finish.
Hoping to spark a comeback, naturalized player Sai Erjiniao entered the match at the start of the second half, energizing the home crowd even as opportunities slipped away. Despite their better play in the latter period, China couldn’t turn momentum into goals.
At the bottom of Group C with six points, China now faces critical upcoming clashes against Indonesia and Bahrain in June. "The next two matches are the key," emphasized China's head coach Branko Ivankovic, urging the team to fight for victories.
Meanwhile, Australia's head coach Tony Popovic expressed satisfaction with his team's first-half performance, pointing to their early dominance as a cornerstone of the win. As the qualifiers heat up, both teams are set for a series of intense battles with World Cup ambitions hanging in the balance.
This high-stakes match is a vivid reminder of football's unpredictable nature – where one early slip or brilliant play can change the game in an instant. Stay tuned as the road to the 2026 World Cup gets even tougher!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
