At the end of a dramatic night, the Chinese men's national soccer team squeezed into the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the feeling among fans was more one of relief than of excitement.
After losing 1-0 to Group C leader South Korea in Seoul on Tuesday night, Team China and its long-suffering fans were left in mixed feelings after another group match result went in their favor, with Thailand beating Singapore 3-1, to tie level with China on points and goal difference, but falling just short on the teams' head-to-head record, sending China into the final Asian qualifying phase as runners-up to South Korea.
After keep South Korea's lethal combo Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in at bay in the first half, Team China's resilient defense cracked on 61 minutes, when Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee scored the only goal of the game, to secure South Korea's place in the final qualifying stage with an unbeaten record of five wins out of six games.
Had China managed to secure a draw with Korea, the team would have secured its place in the final qualifying round without having to rely on third-placed Thailand's result against the group's bottom side Singapore.
Given the gap between South Korea and the 88th-ranked China team, in the ordinary course of events a 1-0 loss to such a higher-ranked side would have been an acceptable outcome.
But with Thailand having led 1-0 at halftime in the decisive game, Team China knew that two more unanswered goals for Thailand would have seen them, rather than China, progress to the final round on goal difference.
The efforts of the Thais were rewarded with two more second-half goals, but a 57th-minute strike from Singapore forward Fandi Ahmad ended up saving the day for Chinese fans.
网友：有机会帮衬一下
在新加坡队1比3客场不敌泰国队的比赛中，新加坡队门将桑尼堪称“拼命三郎”。这场比赛泰国队射门35次，射正13次，其中多次获得单刀良机，但被桑尼一一化解。
虽然这场比赛新加坡队丢了3球，但恰好让国足可以在积分、净胜球和进球数相当的情况下，凭借相互关系压倒泰国队。如果桑尼多漏掉一个球，国足都将无缘18强赛。
赛后，中国球迷在网络上排队感谢桑尼。更有人贴出桑尼在新加坡经营的椰浆饭摊位地址，呼吁：“有机会的话，大家到新加坡去帮衬一下！”
记者：孙晓晨
来源：中国日报 新华社 人民日报
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