China ties Hong Kong, China 0-0 at World Cup qualifier

China was held to a fruitless draw by Hong Kong, China after squandering a dozen of chances at a 2018 World Cup Asian qualifier at the Baoan Stadium here on Thursday.

China dominated the game with obvious advantage and had four shots against the woodwork, and Hong Kong's goalkeeper and defenders saved several other goal-bound shots to frustrate the hosts. China now sits at the second place of Group C with 4 points from two games, while Hong Kong, China tops the group with 7 points after three games. If Qatar beats Butan later this evening, the 2022 World Cup hosts will surpass China with 6 points from two games.

China's captain Zheng Zhi and left midfielder Yu Hanchao both rattled the woodwork twice in the first half. In the 10th minute, Zheng fired a shot from the edge of the box to hit the far post, before making a wicked lob shot to beat a helpless keeper Yapp Hungfai on 44 minutes, only to find the drive denied by the crossbar. Yu Hanchao's shots were also nice, the speedy attacker rounded Yapp to see his shot hit the post following a clinical through pass from Zheng Zhi in the 11th minute, before diving to poke a nice half-volley against the post after Wu Xi's long pass broke the opposite defence.

After the interval, Hong Kong still sat at the back and launched a few counter attacks with playmaker Lam Kawai, midfielder Godfred Karikari and striker Jaime Mckee. China could create threatening chances easily, but the players seemed to lose their shooting boots, and became more and more anxious as the game came to the end.

The Hong Kong team produced a good chance in the 79th minute following substitute midfielder Xu Deshuai carved open the Chinese defence, but his curving shot went high over the crossbar. Endi