China’s Qatar 2022 World Cup dream turns to nightmare with Japan defeat
- Li Tie’s side lose 1-0 to rivals in Doha, failing to get a shot on target for the second Asian qualifier in a row
- Hopes of qualifying for a second World Cup are slim as China trail group B leaders Australia and Saudi Arabia by six points
Both teams entered their second game of this third group stage on the back of defeats with China losing 3-0 to Australia and Japan suffering shock 1-0 reverse at home to Oman.
It was Japan who got their qualifying campaign back on track, though the result should have been more emphatic.
Yuya Osako’s 40th minute goal was enough to settle the match but the scoreline did not reflect Japan’s dominance at the Khalifa International Stadium, where they enjoyed 71 per cent of the possession.
The visitors had 18 goal attempts to China’s three, with Japan having three efforts on target to China’s none. That makes it two matches where China have failed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper despite their high profile naturalisation policy.
Li started Brazil-born striker Elkeson and the former England under-21 defender Ty Browning before bringing on Alan Carvalho and Aloisio from the bench as he looked for a lifeline.