Seven simply not enough, 2006 World Cup bid ends
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-18 08:37

 China had its hopes of securing a ticket to the World Cup crushed last night despite its 7-0 walloping of Hong Kong, as Kuwait edged ahead of the Chinese to win their qualifying group on goal difference.

A supporter for China national team reacts during China's World Cup qualifying match against Hong Kong in Guangzhou yesterday. China won 7-0 but hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals disappeared after failing to collect a big win over Hong Kong. [newsphoto]

China needed to win big to overtake Kuwait, with whom they were tied for the lead of Asia Group 4, but lagged in goals. Despite the goal-fest in the southern city of Guangzhou, they fell short as Kuwait delivered a 6-1 drubbing of Malaysia.

The defeat was bitter for a team that first participated in World Cup finals two years ago but has since struggled. Dutch-born coach Arie Haan said he would resign if China was knocked out of qualifiers.

China piled the pressure on from the start and Li Jinyu opened the scoring with a rocket into the back of the net from 15 metres in the tenth minute, sending up a huge cheer from the sparse but enthusiastic home crowd.

China continued to attack furiously, but were repeatedly denied by Hong Kong's talismanic goalie Fan Chun-yip. A string of corner kicks yielded nothing but dead air while Hong Kong threatened on a pair of fast counter attacks and a driving shot from 30 metres by Wong Chunyue.

China finally scored again in the 42nd minute, when Shao Jiayi added the first of a pair: a blazing shot from 18 metres crashing into the bar and bouncing down into the goalmouth. The Munich 1860 striker's second came two minutes later on a goalmouth scramble.

Li added his second just two minutes after the restart, slotting in a ball crossed directly in front of the goal. Xu Yunlong followed up two minutes later to make it 5-0.

Zheng Zhi could have added another minutes later on a penalty shot in the 71st minute, but Fan foiled China's chances with a beautiful diving save.

China's sixth came in the 87th minute from substitute Yu Genwei, while Li Weifeng added the seventh.

Even then, it was not enough.

Hong Kong's coach had said he would make the game interesting for China, and the team's dogged defence spelled China's ultimate downfall.

So desperate had China's position been that some Chinese fans had urged Hong Kong's players to drop the fight. Hong Kong team officials rejected any suggestion that they might throw the game and Asia's main football body threatened punishment for any "funny business."

China's 1-0 loss to Kuwait last month put their World Cup chances on the line. The teams were tied at the top of the group with 12 points apiece, but China needed to score at least two more goals than Kuwait did in its game against last-place Malaysia at home.