China scored twice in 13 minutes to come from behind and upset Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Asian Cup yesterday, booking themselves a spot in the quarter-finals.
China started the tournament as title outsiders, but after winning their first two Group B matches in dramatic fashion, they are now assured of finishing top of their pool with a game to spare.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime against the group favorites, China drew level after 55 minutes when Wu Xi scored and then snatched the lead with a spectacular solo strike from substitute Sun Ke.
Photo: EPA
Uzbekistan, who took an early lead through an opportunist goal from Odil Ahmedov, could not find a late equalizer and now face Saudi Arabia in their final group game in Melbourne on Sunday to decide the pool runner-up.
As group winners, China will play the runners-up in Group A, either Australia or South Korea. The Group B runners-up will play the Group A winners.
Ahmedov gave Uzbekistan the lead after 22 minutes with a goal against the run of play. The central midfielder took a speculative long-range shot from outside the area that took a wicked deflection off the legs of defensive midfielder Wu.
China goalkeeper Wang Dalei, who saved a penalty in their weekend win over Saudi Arabia, was helpless to stop the ball from flying into the top corner of the net.
Wu made amends by scoring the equalizer in the second half after Jiang Zhipeng’s cross from the left floated over the head of Uzbekistan ’keeper Ignatiy Nesterov, who over-committed, leaving the goal open.
Zhang Chengdong and Gao Lin played the ball back in for the unmarked Wu to blast into the back of the net.
Less than 15 minutes later, China scored again, when Sun came off the bench and after a few minutes, got the ball inside the Uzbekistan area and dribbled downfield.
He got as far as the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a ferocious shot that curled past the outstretched arms of Nesterov and decided the match.
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