China draws Hong Kong 0-0, chance of survival slim

Due to bad luck and a clear goal disallowed by the referees, China had to accept another goalless draw with Hong Kong here on Tuesday in Group C of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament.

   Only the eight group winners and four best second-place teams will enter the last stage of the Asian Zone qualifying campaign.

   Qatar, the 2022 host, has definitely topped Group C with 18 points after easing past Bhutan 3-0 tonight. China is standing third in the group with 11 points and two games to go. Hong Kong is second with 14 points and one game remaining.

   Even though China beat the Maldives and Qatar in the remaining two games to overtake Hong Kong for the second place in the group, it is very difficult for China to be one of the four best performing runners-up among the eight groups on points. 

   In their first meet in September, China hit four times on the frame of the Hong Kong team and both didn't score. The same story repeated here Tuesday as China got another four hits on the frame.

   China controlled the game and kept offensive, but Yu Dabao's goal in the 77th minute was ignored by the referees. 

   "I feel disappointed about the result but not about our players. They have done their best," said China coach Frenchman Alain Perrin. "We should win the game although our opponents performed well in defence. We scored a goal but it was ignored by the referees." 

   Hong Kong's South Korean coach Kim Pangon spoke highly of his players' performance.

   "I feel satisfied about the result. Our players did a very good job, especially in defence," Kim said.  Endi