China hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia were given a huge boost on Tuesday night, as they beat Qatar 2-0 in a crucial Asian Group C qualifier.
Chinese players react during a game against Qatar in Xi’an on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.
After a goal-less opening half, Huang Bowen and Wu Lei got on the score-sheet in the second period to give the hosts the win they desperately needed.
The eight group winners and the four best "second-placed teams" will advance to the next phase of the qualifying process for Asia. As one of the second-placed teams, China needed other results to go their way as well, and they did. Australia hammered Jordan 5-1, while the Philippines defeated the DPRK 3-2. China will now move to the final qualifying round barring a freak set of results later on Tuesday.
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