Midfielder Zhou Haibin scored the only goal to give China a 1-0 win over Iraq in the second round of men's soccer event at the Doha Asian Games here on Wednesday.

China's Zheng Zhi (L) and Iraqi players Muhamed Karrar (C) and Mohammed Ahmed fight for the ball during their soccer match at the Asian Games in Doha November 29, 2006. China won 1-0. [Reuters]

Zhou drove a well-taken half volley from 22 meters past goalkeeper Mohammed Khadum after Iraqi defender failed to clear the cross by Shen Longyuan

Veteran coach Ratomir Dujikovic's men had more ball possession in the first half. But Iraq created a better chance. Wang Dalei denied Karrar Muhamed on two occasions when the in-form keeper caught a sharp header and shut out the Iraqi left winger on a one- to-one situation.

China was reduced to ten men four minutes before the interval, when leftback Zhang Ke received his second yellow card.

Iraq piled on the pressure to their rivals in the second half when Muaad Saleem fired a powerful low drive against the side net inside the box.

China's best chance came after 61 minutes when skipper Zheng Zhi made a quick foray down the left flank before feeding a smart back pass to find an unmarked Zhou, who shot the ball too high.

Gao Lin nearly doubled the advantage for China in the 75th minute, only to find his left foot shot fly over the bar.