China's men’s national soccer team lost to Iran 0-1 in a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match at Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday. With five points from seven matches and only three more games to play, China’s hope to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Russia is fading.
China's starting eleven for a FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier against Iran in Tehran, Iran on March 28, 2017. /CFP Photo
After a goalless first half, Iran's Mehdi Taremi scored the only goal of the match for group leader Iran less than one minute into the second half.
Marcelo Lippi's men surprisingly beat South Korea 1-0 five days ago, but they failed to continue the winning momentum in Iran, where the Chinese team lost all their previous five encounters to the home side.
Marcelo Lippi, head coach of China's men's national soccer team. /CFP Photo
Iran's Mehdi Taremi (L) celebrates after scoring a goal against China during a FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier in Tehran, Iran on March 28, 2017. /CFP Photo
According to qualification rules, after the 10-game home-and-away round robin, the top two will qualify for the World Cup finals directly, and the third finisher will enter the playoffs with its counterpart in the other group. China is now 12 points behind Iran and eight points behind South Korea.
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