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Sultry night, tough time, no miracle
Chinese fans receive a bad news Thursday morning as their football team suffered a 1 nil defeat by Kuwait in a vital group D match of World Cup 2006 qualifiers Asian zone.
That means China lost the upper hand in the group.
The Chinese football watchdog has been pulled into a tough period in recent days as Beijing Hyundai made the first ever soccer strike in China's top division in national holidays. The administration deadly wished to take avail of the win to bail out of the current embarrassment.
Before the match, China stood the top in the group with 4 consecutive wins including a reluctant 1-0 home victory over the rival in Feb, while Kuwaiti was anxious to use the match, maybe their final opportunity, to catch up with Ari Haan's squad. They have kept extraordinary form in recent three 2-0 wins.
After this duel, China and Kuwait will face Hong Kong and Malaysia. Because of the fewer points in hand, the two outsiders have been unable to set any obstacles on two powers’ways.
Therefore, if China won, they would be in fact the group winner, whereas, Kuwait could retain their hope with a victory.
Dutchman Ari Haan once again fielded a 4-4-2 formation. Still a diamond-shaped midfield but more balanced lineup showed the head coach's bottom line that clinching at least one point away home.
In the rear, China had to break its tested pair as full back Zheng Zhi was suspended for red card. Zhang Yaokun joined Captain Li Weifeng to guard Chinese last ditch.
And a great change was introduced to the midfield. Zhao Junzhe was still in the center to cut off rivals' attack. While Munich 1860's international player Shao Jiayi was preferred in his familiar position of attacking midfielder. In right wing, Xu Yunlong from Beijing Hyundai took Li Ming's position as the Da Lian's veteran sidelined for injury. And his Hyundai's teammate Yang Pu was in the left.
However talisman Hao Haidong and top gun Li Jinyu leading the front line still disclosed that the Dutch man wished his boys to find nets whatever once or twice.
The balanced lineup seemed to bring acceptable result in the first half. A goal drought game was also in China’s favor in the group tally.
But we could still find some problems in this eleven. Besides those traditional phenomenons: midfielders could seldom feed balls for forwards and unforced faults, we might see a variance in the pitch that some players were in the front dedicating to attack, while the remaining stood in the rear to wait opponents' counterattack. That left nothing but enough room for Kuwaiti to organize offense in the middle.
Thanks to a loss just minutes into the second half. It made Chinese became aware and unify their mind to launch attacks.
But they were not the lucky dog any more. The sultry weather, continuous faults and vociferous local supporters in Arabic cloaks, everything appeared to go against Chinese players.
Chinese failed to revive at last and missed the boat directly advancing into the last eight.
Currently, they have to share the same opportunity with the western Asian counterpart in the Novembers final round, in which the last winner will come out on goal difference.
Could God bless Ari Haan and his boys? |
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