China enter quarterfinals in Asian Cup

Hosts China qualified for the Asian Cup quarter-finals after beating Qatar 1-0 in their last match in Group A in Beijing on July 25.

China topped the group with seven points from two wins and one draw. Bahrain also qualified as second finisher of the group with five points after beating Indonesia 3-1 in a match simultaneously held in Ji'nan, 800 kilometers south of Beijing.

Dutchman Arie Haan's side, who drew with Bahrain and routed Indonesia 5-0 in the previous games, showed some determination to win the game in front of a noisy home crowd of 60,000, but a poor finishing stopped them from scoring until the 78th minute.

Captain Li Weifeng nodded a Li Ming corner across the goalmouth, where fellow defender Xu Yunlong rose high to head the ball past afull-stretched Qatari' keeper Q. Burhan, sending the Chinese fans to frenzy.

China enter quarterfinals in Asian Cup

Lineup:

China: Liu Yunfei, Xu Yunlong, Zheng Zhi, Li Weifeng (c), Sun Xiang, Li Ming, Zhao Junzhe, Shao Jiayi (80thZhang Yaokun), Yan Song (57th, Zheng Bin), Li Jinyu (70th, Sun Jihai), Li Yi

Qatar: Q. Burhan, Nayef M., S. Fath (c), S. Mesbeh, Bilal M., Ezzat. J, S. Alshammri, Mohyaden (80th, J. Jouhar), A. Karim (88thA. Musa), Sayed Ali, W. Hamzah

Source: Xinhua