On January 27, Japan's Yūya Ōki (center) shoots a shot from the defense of China player Wang Shenchao (front left).
On the same day, in the seventh round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifier Asian Round of 12 Group B in Saitama, Japan, the Chinese team lost 0-2 to Japan.
Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoyu
TOKYO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- In the seventh round of the World Cup Asian Qualifier Round of 12 Group B on the 27th, the Chinese men's football team was passive, losing 0:2 to Japan at Saitama Stadium, and there was basically no hope of qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Before the game, the Chinese team ranked fifth in the group with 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses and 5 points, and the Japanese team ranked second in the group with 12 points from 4 wins and 2 losses. China can only continue to retain the hope of entering the top two of the group and directly qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar by scoring points against Japan.
Facing the Asian powerhouse Japan, Li Xiaopeng arranged the starting lineup of "five defenders" in his national football head coach debut, trying to create opportunities through defensive counterattacks. The Japanese team followed the "433" high-pressure offensive style of play, trying to grasp the initiative of the game.
In the first half of the game, Japanese right winger Jun Ito was also extremely active, creating threats by interspersing breakthroughs many times. In the 11th minute, Jun Ito also burst into the penalty area from the right to send a cross, Wang Shenchao was fouled by handball when blocking, and the referee took a penalty. Daisuke also made a free throw to help Japan take a 1-0 lead.
After breaking the deadlock on the field, the Japanese team continued to put pressure on the Chinese team and created many scoring opportunities, and it was difficult for the Chinese team to organize an effective counterattack. In the first half of the game, the Japanese team had a 71% possession rate, with a total of 9 shots and 3 shots on target, and the Chinese team did not complete the shot.
Yi Bian fought again, and Li Xiaopeng was replaced by Alain, Wei Shihao, Dai Weijun and other midfielders, but with little effect. In the 61st minute of the match, Yuta Nakayama crossed from the left and Jun Ito nodded his head to break the goal, and the Japanese team extended their lead.
The Chinese team then tried to organize a counterattack. In the 68th minute, the Chinese team was completed by Wei Shihao through a free kick to complete the first shot of the game, but unfortunately the ball slid through the goal. In the 82nd minute, Wu Xi volleyed high over the crossbar from outside the penalty area and the score was finally fixed at 2:0.
In another match in Group B, Australia beat Vietnam 4-0. At present, the Japanese team ranks second in the group with 15 points, the Australian team ranks third in the group with 14 points, and the Chinese team ranks fifth in the group with 5 points.
According to the rules, the top two in each group in the Round of 12 will advance directly to the World Cup in Qatar, and the third place will be given the opportunity to participate in the play-offs. With three rounds left in the game, the Chinese team has been unable to enter the top two places in the group, and qualifying for the play-offs as the third place is only theoretically possible.
On January 27, Chinese player Wang Shenchao (right) competed with Japanese player Takushi Minano for the top spot.
On January 27, China's Wu Lei (third from right) was shown a yellow card by the referee.
On January 27, Chinese player Wang Shenchao (third from right) was awarded handball during the match.
On January 27, Japan's Hang Endo passed the ball during the match.