Still savoring the sweet taste of triumph, Marcello Lippi sauntered into his postgame press conference with all the poise and grace of a charismatic World Cup-winning coach and was met with rapturous applause from adoring journalists.   

The septuagenarian China boss, who responded with a thumbs up, certainly deserves mass adulation after a nerve-racking finale at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Sunday as it emerged that the golden touch he enjoyed during a decade-long joyride as manager of Juventus and Italy did not desert Lippi.  

To hell with anyone who suggests it would be imprudent and foolhardy to get too carried away. China fought back to reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals and their fans could be forgiven for daring to think that they can finally disperse the dark clouds hanging over the giant nation after years of frustratingly bad underperformance, countless public inquests and bitter recriminations.

The last time China won an Asian Cup knockout game – or any knockout game – was a penalty shootout win over Iran at home in the 2004 Asian Cup. That was their first knockout victory in a major tournament for 15 years, or to be even more precise 5,219 days. Next up for Team Dragon will be Asia's top-ranked team Iran, who nonchalantly brushed aside Oman 2-0 on the same night.

It could have been a wholly different evening for Lippi's side. Having gone ahead through Supachai Jaided's first-half goal, Thailand had the perfect platform to go on and rub salt into China's self-inflicted wounds but badly lost their way against a Chinese side who played with admirable fortitude, faith and flair that had been badly missing in recent tournaments. The turning point was Xiao Zhi's equalizer, just three minutes after coming off the bench, and from that moment on the Thais never recovered.

China looked surprisingly stodgy in the opening exchanges. Theerathon Bunmathan should have punished their sloppy start in the 23rd minute but his dipping free-kick could not find a way past Chinese goalie Yan Junling. 

But the respite was short-lived as Thailand prised China apart again with their quick thinking and shrewd movement. From a corner, Thitiphan Puangjan's rasping shot from distance took a slight deflection and fell invitingly to Supachai Jaided, who reacted fastest and swiveled to slam the ball past a fully stretched Yan from close range.

Conceding early in the game brought China's nerves flooding back, the players panicked as opponents reveled in wide open spaces. The Thais should have killed off the game when they had been dominant. But fortunately, China managed to escape further damage before the break and the only downside for them during that period was the yellow card for a cynical foul from defender Zhang Linpeng, who will miss their next game.

Not for the first time this campaign Lippi intervened with a tactical masterstroke. In the first half, China were simply unable to cope with the intensity and the slick combination play of Thailand's forward line, which prompted Lippi into a change. On came Xiao Zhi for Yu Dabao, quickly followed by Jin Jingdao for Liu Yang, as the Italian threw out the 4-3-3 and moved to 3-4-3 formation.

The switch was crucial in allowing China to find space to receive possession and it quickly paid dividends as China skipper Zheng Zhi's wonderful whipped right cross found Xiao on the edge of the box and the target man leveled the score by prodding home the rebound after Siwarak Tedsungnoen had saved his initial header.

The change to a back three, with four in central midfield, also freed up Gao Lin to make forward runs and to support Wu Lei, who looked a little rusty on his return from injury and missed a string of presentable chances.

The manner in which the Thais wilted was not unexpected, their back-line horribly exhausted and nerves gripping all over the pitch. The 33-year-old Gao, who surpassed legendary striker Hao Haidong and Fan Zhiyi with his 108th national appearance, duly delivered the fatal blow.

The Guangzhou Evergrande veteran, capitalizing on a smart knock-down from Wu, was scythed down in the Thai box by Chalermpong Kerdkaew. He held his nerve to convert his 22nd international goal.

Refusing to back down, Thailand still had a chance to force the tie into extra time in a frantic goalmouth scramble but Pansa Hemviboon was thwarted by a lively Yan. China, as well as Lippi, had the last laugh.