In a spirited 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier match held in Adelaide on Thursday, Australia rallied from behind to defeat China 3-1, despite an early lead by the visitors.
China started strong and opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Zhang Yuning set up Xie Wenneng with a precise header, allowing Xie to charge into the box and secure his first goal for the national team.
However, Australia’s persistence paid off just before halftime. In stoppage time, Craig Goodwin delivered a well-placed free kick from the left wing, and Lewis Miller capitalized with a header to level the match at 1-1.
The momentum shifted in favor of the Socceroos in the second half. Seven minutes after the restart, Goodwin unleashed a powerful shot into the left corner, leaving China’s goalkeeper Wang Dalei with little chance to react, putting Australia ahead 2-1.
As the match approached its conclusion, Australia sealed their victory with a third goal in the third minute of stoppage time. A defensive miscue by China’s Li Yuanyi led to a scramble in the box, and Nishan Velupillay took advantage to secure the final goal for the hosts.
The win elevates Australia to second place in Group C, while China, facing their third consecutive loss in the third stage, remains at the bottom of the six-team group.
Looking ahead, China will host Indonesia in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on October 15, while Australia prepares to visit group leaders Japan.
In other Group C action, Japan maintained their top position with a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, bringing their points total to nine. Meanwhile, Bahrain and Indonesia played to a 2-2 draw, leaving them in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
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China fall to Australia 3-1 in 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier
cgtn.com
