The Impressive TimesHangzhou, China, Mar 26 : China endured a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Australia in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, severely denting its hopes of securing a spot in the 2026 tournament with only two matches left.
Jackson Irvine handed the Socceroos an early advantage in the 16th minute. His initial attempt from the edge of the box was blocked, but a slip from Chinese defensive midfielder Huang Zhengyu allowed him to regain possession and curl the ball into the far corner.
Australia extended its lead in the 29th minute when Nishan Velupillay capitalized on a goalkeeping blunder by Wang Dalei. His close-range shot slipped through Wang’s hands, doubling the visitors’ advantage.
At halftime, naturalized player Sai Erjiniao made his debut for China, energizing the home side’s attack. However, despite strong support from a record 70,588 spectators, China failed to find the back of the net.
Sitting at the bottom of Group C with six points, China now faces a must-win situation in June against Indonesia and Bahrain to keep its World Cup aspirations alive. The top two teams from each six-team group will secure direct qualification, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will advance to the next qualifying phase.
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