Team China celebrated a long-awaited World Cup qualifier win against Singapore on Tuesday to offer home fans an escape from long sufferings supporting the underachieving squad.
qualifier /ˈkwɒlɪfaɪə(r)/：预选赛 squad /skwɒd/：运动（代表）队
Roared on by over 42,000 home fans waving red flags and clapping tirelessly, the Chinese men's team battled through a tense first half before going all out on offense in the second half to beat Singapore 4-1 in an Asian zone qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Tianjin.
图源：足球报
第85分钟，武磊半场拿球后长驱直入，推射破门，连续两场比赛上演梅开二度，10人应战的国足扩大领先优势，3比1新加坡！
图源：足球报
第90分钟，王上源断球后立马发起反击，张玉宁将球转移给武磊，武磊面对门将无私将球横传，中路包抄的韦世豪轻松将球打进，国足4比1领先新加坡！
China's star striker Wu Lei, a former Spanish La Liga player, scored a brace for a second straight game, one each half, to clinch Team China's second group-stage win, following a 2-1 defeat of Thailand in November, and helped new head coach Branko Ivankovic secure his first victory at the helm.
Wu's 21st-minute opener for China was followed by an instant equalizer by a Faris Ramli header in the very next minute in the first half, but second half goals from Fei Nanduo's spot-kick, a second from Wu, and a late strike from Wei Shihao dampened Singapore's surging attempt for another comeback.
equalizer /ˈiːkwəlaɪzər/ ：扳平比分的得分
header 头球
spot-kick 点球
dampen 抑制，减弱（感情、反应等）
comeback 东山再起；迅速的反驳
图源：足球报
按照赛程，国足将在6月主场迎来与泰国队的关键之战。展望与泰国队的比赛，主教练伊万科维奇表示，下一场武磊因累计黄牌将停赛，状态正佳的李源一也因为这场的红牌无法出场，这对全队来说非常遗憾。接下来的时间，教练组要让阵容磨合得更好，用整体去弥补个人能力上的缺失。
图源：新华社
中国队只要下场战胜泰国队，就将提前一轮晋级18强赛，对此伊万科维奇说：“我们很清楚下一场比赛的目标，那就是取得胜利。”
China will host Thailand in its next outing when the first-round qualifying campaign resumes on June 6, before challenging current group leader South Korea five days away.
outing：（体育项目或电影中的）出场
With the precious three points earned at home, China now sits second in Group C, trailing only South Korea, who beat Thailand 3-0 on Tuesday, with a bright prospect to enter the final qualifying stage involving 18 teams.
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