SOCCER/ China keeps its World Cup hopes alive despite a 1-0 loss to South Korea

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 12,serie a standings 2024 at 11:35 JST

• Share
• Tweet list

• Print

Singapore's Mahler William, left, fights for the ball with Thailand's Supachok Sarachat during World Cup Asia qualifying match at Rajamangala national stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, June 11, 2024. (AP Photo)

China kept its 2026 World Cup hopes alive by the narrowest of margins despite a 1-0 loss to South Korea on Tuesday in Asian qualifying.

China advanced to the third qualification round because Thailand, needing to beat Singapore by three goals, only won 3-1.

South Korea finished the second round of continental qualifying atop Group C and remains on course for an 11th straight World Cup appearance.

Six of the 18 Asian teams in the next stage will secure automatic spots at the World Cup. Two more teams will earn direct entry to the World Cup from a fourth stage in Asian qualifying and another will go into intercontinental playoffs for a spot at the global tournament.

In front of 65,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Lee Kang-in scored in the 61st minute. A cross from Tottenham star Son Heung-min found its way to the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who scored on a low shot from near the penalty spot.

“We were able to keep China from creating any dangerous chances,” Son said. “There’s no such thing as a perfect match, but we stayed patient and capitalized on our chance to win. Obviously, we could have won by a bigger margin, but overall, everyone did a great job.”

China needed a draw or better to ensure second place in the group but was forced to wait and hope that Singapore could avoid a three-goal loss in Bangkok.

China's only appearance at a men's World Cup so far was in 2002, when the tournament was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

At the Rajamangala Stadium, Suphanat Mueanta put Thailand ahead in the first half, and Ikhsan Fandi equalized just before the hour.

Thailand made it 3-1 on goals from Poramet Arjvirai and Jaroensak Wonggorn but couldn't find the key fourth goal.

“I feel disappointed that we didn't make it to the next round,” Suphanat said. “I have to apologize to the football fans and all Thai people … there were so many opportunities.”

There was also heartbreak for the India squad. India needed to beat Group A leader Qatar to be sure of progressing but lost 2-1 in Doha after scoring the first goal. Kuwait scored in the 81st minute to top Afghanistan 1-0 and take second spot with seven points from six games.

Earlier, in a contest between teams already confirmed as first and second in Group I, Australia beat the Palestinian team 5-0 in Perth to make it six wins out of six and a 22-0 goal difference.

Socceroos forward Kusini Yengi scored twice, including the contentious penalty in the opening minutes that upset the Palestinian team, and 18-year-old Nestory Irankunda capped it with a late penalty.

A crowd of 18,261 fans attended the match in the Western Australia capital, with Palestinian supporters more vocal than the Socceroos fans.

Indonesia progressed with a 2-0 win over the Philippines in Group F.

North Korea took advantage of Syria's 5-0 loss to Japan, which did not concede a goal in the six games, to take second place in Group B with a 4-1 win over Myanmar.

Oman and Kyrgyzstan progressed from Group D. Iran and Uzbekistan also made it into the third round which will kick off in September, along with Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Jordan finished atop Group G with a come-from-behind 2-1 upset over the Saudis.

• ·１１・１７「齋藤彰俊引退記念大会」…メインイベントは「清宮海斗ｖｓ杉浦貴」ＧＨＣヘビー級戦
• ·「シティーハンター」が今日だけLINEマンガで全話無料、「その笑顔好きじゃない」も
• ·Ｊ１最下位・札幌が５発…先発予定の浅野が直前に負傷のアクシデントも１９位・鳥栖との「逆天王山」制す
• ·杉本彩、別人級に雰囲気ガラリ！５６歳にびっくりな近影「新鮮」「すごくステキ」と反響
• ·「Aランクパーティ離脱」に中島ヨシキ、M・A・O、世界ら出演　PV＆新ビジュアル到着（動画あり / コメントあり）
• ·巨人・西舘とＤｅＮＡ・石田裕の中大同期対決中止で恩師・清水監督「２人が別の日に投げて勝てばいいです」
• ·大谷翔平、ヌートバーと侍対決　カージナルス戦「１番・ＤＨ」　得意のＶＳマイコラス　３０球団制覇なるか
• ·モンテス語った巨人、イチロー、野望…「日本一」のために来た第二の救世主　頭使ってどこでも打つ守る万能助っ人に
• ·ハッピーセットに初のマンガ「深海のサバイバル 特別編」、11月15日より限定販売（コメントあり）
• ·【巨人】左手首骨折のヘルナンデスが故障班に合流…アームホルダーで左腕を固定
• ·大谷翔平、特注の“デコピン・スパイク”披露　左足は真顔　右足は舌出し
• ·「絶対さばいてやろうと思っていた」センバツの悪夢払拭する高橋徹平の美守で関東第一５年ぶり夏の甲子園８強
• ·ドラゴンと江戸が交わる、波乱に満ちた歴史ファンタジー「ドラゴン奉行」1巻
• ·中村アン、ラブコメの連ドラ「青島くんはいじわる」で殻を破る　世間のクールなイメージ「いい意味ではぎ取りたい」
• ·「新鮮な感じ」松山英樹“急造タッグ”で１差２位発進…エースキャディーがパスポートを盗まれ不在も動じず
• ·【甲子園】２回戦敗退の掛川西が帰郷…新主将の鈴木脩平中心に来春センバツ目指して始動