AFC Asian Cup: China fighting to avoid embarrassing exit after stumbling to second stalemate against Lebanon
- Aleksandar Jankovic’s team lack inspiration and creativity in meek performance
- China wrap-up Group A fixtures against Qatar on Monday, when Lebanon meet Tajikistan
China’s hopes of escaping their group at the AFC Asian Cup were left hanging on a knife-edge after a sterile 0-0 draw with Lebanon in Qatar on Wednesday.
A second successive scoreless encounter for Aleksandar Jankovic’s side, after their opening game with Tajikistan on Saturday, leaves China needing a point against hosts Qatar on Monday to avoid the embarrassment of a group-stage exit.
However, on the evidence of their first 180 minutes, if they concede against the hosts and defending champions, Jankovic’s team are in big trouble, given the dearth of creativity.
China were timid in front of goal, too, a fault exemplified when Wu Lei’s weak second-half attempt from four yards allowed Khalil Khamis to clear off the line, following Mostafa Matar’s woeful attempt to clear Dei Weijun’s cross from the right.
Head coach Jankovic attempted to talk up his team’s performance, hanging his argument on China’s 60 percent possession share and the value of a second clean sheet. But the Serb’s words sounded like those of a man attempting to convince his players of their ability to remain in the competition beyond the next match.
“Today, we showed a much better face, we showed stability and confidence, and we controlled the game,” Jankovic said. “We had more than 60 percent possession.
“We were brave, fighting, generous, and together. We controlled the tempo, and respected the gameplan.