China paid a visit to Singapore knowing that only a huge margin of victory in Singapore could keep their hopes of advancing alive. China needed to win their final two qualifiers and overcome their deficit in goal differential to Iraq to advance. They also needed Iraq to lose their final two matches. As has been the case throughout round three, Singapore were thoroughly dominated in all aspects of the match, though China only broke the deadlock late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the locker room.In the second period, China's superiority continued to shine through. An early second-half scare from Singapore hit the crossbar, but after that China began to coast through the match. Goal number two came ten minutes into the half and was followed by a brace from Zheng Zheng to give China a 4-0 lead, a margin of victory large enough to give China a simple formula for advancing to the next phase of qualifying. If China win their final match and Iraq lose both of their last two, China will advance.
Jordan came home to Amman to take on Iraq. A home victory would secure the Group A crown for Jordan; a draw or better would seal progression for Iraq and end China's hopes of survival. The crowd exploded upon Jordan scoring the opener after Hasan Mahmoud broke the offside trap and calmly finished a one-on-one with the goalkeeper with a chipped shot. Jordanian fans continued to rock the stadium for the remainder of the half as the team lead 1-0 after forty-five minutes of play.
Iraq had to change the tide in the second half, and that they did. After a cross was headed down at the far post, the ball bounced to star Iraq midfielder Nashat Akram (pictured, green) who volleyed the ball into the side netting for an equalizer, stunning the crowd ten minutes into the half. A dozen minutes later, a close range free kick was headed down in the box from where it was volleyed home for a 2-1 Iraq lead. Akram added the third with less than ten minutes on the clock after shooting into an open net. Iraq win the match 3-1 and earn their ticket into the AFC Fourth Round.
Jordan 12 pts - IN
Iraq 12 pts - IN
China OUT
Singapore OUT
Iraq 12 pts - IN
China OUT
Singapore OUT
Goals
China
Yu Hai 42
Li Weifeng 55
Zheng Zheng 73, 82
Iraq
Nashat Akram 55, 81
Qusai Munir 67
Jordan
Hasan Mahmoud 17
Match Reports:
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGGQGGXYSrg&feature=related (China v. Singapore)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gyUtbFpJXU (Iraq v. Jordan)
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