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Laura Zhou

Hopes are rising for China to qualify for the World Cup, after the national soccer team stunned Qatar in a 2-0 victory on Tuesday night.
“The year of 2016 is full of miracles,” one weibo user wrote after the crucial game in Xian, northeastern China’s Shaanxi province.
Stars align for China: against all odds, they reach third round of World Cup qualifying
Midfielder Huang Bowen had delivered a stunning shot from outside the penalty box into the corner during the 58th minute of the match, and Wu Lei’s close-range strike in the 88th minute resulted in the second goal.
“We had Leonardo DiCaprio winning the Oscar and now our soccer team have won!”
The World Cup qualifiers have not been an easy game for the Chinese national soccer team.
Now China should be low-profile in the South China Sea disputes with the Philippines ... And we should continue to buy iron ore and copper from Australia as well as oil from Jordan
Microblogger
The team had previously faced criticism from fans after losing key matches. They came under fire especially after drawing 0-0 with Hong Kong in November, putting the Chinese team in a difficult position.
For China to reach the next round, the team had to win Qatar, Australia had to crush Jordan in Group B – which they did, 5-1 – and the Philippines had to beat North Korea, which they also did with a 3-2 result.
“It’s not easy that our Asian neighbours all came to lend a hand to help our soccer team win,” one microblogger said.
“Now China should be low-profile in the South China Sea disputes with the Philippines because they helped us qualify,” another microblogger wrote. “And we should continue to buy iron ore and copper from Australia as well as oil from Jordan.”
Yet another microblogger said: “Do we have any reason to give up when in difficulties, when the Chinese soccer team have won? Just keep trying and trying.”
Qualifying for the World Cup finals has become one of Beijing and President Xi Jinping’s goals for the country.
China stun Qatar 2-0 to revive World Cup hopes
Last year, Xi, a soccer fan himself, personally chaired a meeting aimed at restructuring the country’s soccer infrastructure, setting up a special coordination team under the State Council.
The sport has been listed as a compulsory course in schools and by 2017, some 20,000 soccer-focused schools are expected be set up across the country to produce more than 100,000 players.


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2018 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifying

‘Our Asian neighbours helped us win’: soccer fans rejoice after China moves on to next round of World Cup qualifiers

The Chinese national soccer team celebrate after winning the crucial match against Qatar in Xian, Shaanxi province, on Tuesday night. Photo: Reuters

Football Soccer - China v Qatar - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an, China - 29/3/16. Huang Bowen of China and Abdulaziz Hatem of Qatar in action. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

In this Tuesday, March 29, 2016 photo, China's Wu Lei, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during a soccer match against Qatar at the 2018 World Cup Preliminary Qualification Round 2 in Xi'an in China's Shaanxi province. China beat Qatar 2-0. (Color China Photo via AP) CHINA OUT

Stars align for China: against all odds, they reach third round of World Cup qualifying

Huang Bowen celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Qatar in their World Cup qualifier in Xian. Photo: AFP

Australia's Massimo Luongo celebrates his goal against Jordan during the World Cup Asian qualifier football match between Australia and Jordan in Sydney on March 29, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

Wu Lei of China celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2018 World Cup football qualifying match against Qatar in Xi'an, northwest China's Shanxi province on March 29, 2016. CHINA OUT / AFP PHOTO / STR

Football Soccer - China v Qatar - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an, China - 29/3/16. Wu Lei of China celebrates with teammates after winning against Qatar. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

Australia's Tim Cahill celebrates his goal against Jordan during the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier football match between Australia and Jordan in Sydney on March 29, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

China stun Qatar 2-0 to revive World Cup hopes

Huang Bowen celebrates the opening goal in China’s 2-0 victory over Qatar in their group C World Cup qualifier in Xian. Photos: Xinhua

新華社照片，西安，2016年3月29日 （體育）（11）足球——世預賽：中國勝卡塔爾 3月29日，中國隊球員武磊在比賽中慶祝進球。 當日，在陜西省體育場進行的2018年俄羅斯世界盃亞洲區預選賽C組比賽中，中國隊以2比0戰勝卡塔爾隊。 新華社記者曹燦攝

新華社照片，西安，2016年3月29日 （體育）（16）足球——世預賽：中國隊對陣卡塔爾隊 3月29日，中國隊球員馮瀟霆（左）與卡塔爾球員梅沙勒·阿卜杜拉拼搶。 當日，在陜西省體育場進行的2018年俄羅斯世界盃亞洲區預選賽C組比賽中，中國隊主場對陣卡塔爾隊。 新華社記者陶希夷攝

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Fans suggest Beijing should express its gratitude through its policies after national team beat Qatar, Australia crush Jordan and Philippines wins North Korea to enable China to reach the next round


New | ‘Our Asian neighbours helped us win’: soccer fans rejoice after China moves on to next round of World Cup qualifiers

Fans suggest Beijing should express its gratitude through its policies after national team beat Qatar, Australia crush Jordan and Philippines wins North Korea to enable China to reach the next round