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Chan Kin-wa

China manager Li Tie was left disappointed after his side could only manage a 1-1 draw with Oman in their 2022 World Cup qualifier on Thursday in Sharjah.
Li’s side led for most of the Asian group B final round match, before a late Amjad Al Harthi strike cancelled out Wu Lei’s first-half opener.
Playing their “home” match in the UAE because of coronavirus restrictions at home, Lei put his side ahead midway through the first half after slotting home a Zhu Chenjie pass.
But Al Harthi’s 75th-minute equaliser following a corner means China’s hopes of qualifying for the 2022 tournament in Qatar are now slim, despite their being five matches still play.

“We should have won the game,” Li said. “We played the game well with strong determination to win, this is very disappointing.”
“After going into the lead, we should have killed off the opponents with a couple of chances. But this is how football works. We scored from a corner kick and then conceded one goal in the corner kick. The two sides are very close indeed and a 1-all draw is also a fair result.
“The players came here with a strong belief and were let down by the result, same as me. But we have to move forward.”
China fans call for Li Tie to go after defeat by Saudi Arabia
Li also explained why he replaced naturalised striker Luo Guofu soon after the break. The former Brazilian, who obtained his Chinese nationality last year, scored his first goal for China in their last qualifying match against Saudi Arabia.
Many Chinese fans had praised the Guangzhou FC striker’s performance in a game in which he appeared in the starting line-up for the first time.
“It was normal substitution and was made according to the situation to adjust the team,” Li said. “We felt Luo’s work rate dropped after playing 60 more minutes and could not defend well on the flank.
“At that time, the opponents pushed hard for the equaliser and we needed to strengthen our midfield control and that’s why we made the substitution.”

The draw left China in fifth place with four points, nine behind leaders Saudi Arabia, who played out a goalless encounter with Australia in the day’s early game.
For the Chinese, the Oman clash was one they could not afford to lose; doing so would have left them relying on other results to qualify.
China’s World Cup home games moved to UAE
Branko Ivankovic, the Oman head coach, said he was satisfied to get a point from what he called a tough game.
“My players didn’t lose faith and were very focused when we were 1-0 behind,” he said. “We deserved the equaliser and the result is acceptable for us. The Chinese team played very well and they have good players, but this is football.”

China’s next game is in Sharjah on Tuesday, when they face Australia.
“The Australians are a strong opponent and we have to do our best to fight for a victory,” Li said. “After five games, we saw the gap between us and those best Asian teams, but it doesn’t mean that we have no chance at all. We must go all out and leave no regrets on the pitch.”
In another match, Japan beat bottom side Vietnam 1-0 to go third on nine points. Oman were left in fourth, on seven points.


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Fifa World Cup 2022

Chinese coach Li Tie disappointed after 1-1 draw with Oman all but ends World Cup qualifying hopes

Luo Guofu (right) battles with Jameel Al Yahmadi of Oman during their 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers in Sharjah. Photo: Xinhua

(211112) -- SHARJAH, Nov. 12, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Head coach Li Tie (R) of China gestures during a Group B match between China and Oman of 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Xinhua)

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Group B - Australia v Saudi Arabia - Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia - November 11, 2021 Saudi Arabia's Abdulelah Almalki reacts after sustaining an injury as Salman Al-Faraj and Fahad Al Muwallad clash with Australia's Ajdin Hrustic and Jackson Irvine REUTERS/Loren Elliott

(211112) -- SHARJAH, Nov. 12, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Players of China celebrate after Wu Lei (2nd R) scored a goal during a Group B match between China and Oman of 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Xinhua)

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epa08073171 China's head coach Li Tie during the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Men's match between South Korea and China at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium in Busan, South Korea, 15 December 2019. EPA-EFE/JEON HEON-KYUN

epa08059627 Jiang Zhipeng (C) of China in action against Daiki Hashioka (R) of Japan during the EAFF E-1 Football Championship men's soccer match between Japan and China at the Gudeok Stadium in Busan, South Korea, 10 December 2019. EPA-EFE/JEON HEON-KYUN

(191202) -- BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Marcello Lippi, head coach of China's football team, reacts during a press conference before the group A match between China and Syria of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

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Shanghai SIPG's Brazilian forward Elkeson celebrates after scoring a goal during the Chinese Super League match against Changchun Yatai in 2017. Photo: AFP

China's Haidong Hao, right, reacts after his team was defeated by Brazil 0-4 during the Brazil versus China, Group C, 2002 World Cup soccer match at the Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, South Korea, Saturday June 8, 2002. The other teams in Group C are Turkey and Costa Rica. At left is Brazil's Carlos Roberto, who scored the 1-0. (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski)

Shanghai SIPG'Brazilian forward Hulk (2nd L) celebrates after scoring during the AFC Asian Champions League group match between the Shanghai SIPG and South Korea's FC Seoul in Shanghai on April 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Johannes EISELE

(131109) -- GUANGZHOU, Nov. 9, 2013 (Xinhua) -- Elkeson of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates scoring during the 2013 AFC Champions League final between Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul in Guangzhou, China, on Nov. 9, 2013. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 16, 2017 shows Shanghai SIPG Brazilian forward Elkeson running after the ball during the AFC Asian Champions League group football match between Shanghai SIPG and Urawa Red Diamonds in Shanghai. - Brazilian striker Elkeson is set to be called up to Marcello Lippi's squad for China's World Cup qualifiers, reports said on August 5, 2019, in what would be a landmark moment for football in the country. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP)

This photo taken on April 14, 2019 shows Nico Yennaris (top), also known as Li Ke, of Beijing Guoan celebrating with teammate Renato Augusto after scoring during their Chinese Super League match against Henan Jianye in Beijing. - Nico Yennaris was born in working-class east London, played with Harry Kane at Arsenal as a boy and is an England youth international. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT

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Football


Wu Lei scored in first half but Oman equalised with 15 minutes left
China remain in fifth place out of six teams and will play Australia on Tuesday



A 1-1 draw with Oman leaves China with a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for next year’s tournament in Qatar.


Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Chinese coach Li Tie disappointed after 1-1 draw with Oman all but ends World Cup qualifying hopes

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Wu Lei scored in first half but Oman equalised with 15 minutes left China remain in fifth place out of six teams and will play Australia on Tuesday

Wu Lei scored in first half but Oman equalised with 15 minutes left

China remain in fifth place out of six teams and will play Australia on Tuesday