China lost to Oman 2-0 in final World Cup qualifier

China lost to Oman 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup qualifier on March 30, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese national football team)

MUSCAT, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China lost to Oman 2-0 in their final 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying game here on Tuesday.

With China's hope to make another World Cup appearance since 2002 already crushed following a 3-1 loss to Vietnam in February, the team were still expecting a win over Oman to wrap up their World Cup qualifiers.

It was Oman who made the first attempt just three minutes into the game when Khalid Al-Hajri's right-footed shot from outside the box went just wide, while Zhang Linpeng's header from a corner missed to the right a few minutes later.

Oman broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Arshad Al-Alawi shot from the corner just inside the box, which was out of Chinese goalkeeper Yan Junling's reach.

Abdullah Fawaz made it two for Oman in the 74th minute when his right-footed shot from the center of the box hit the bottom corner of the net with an assist by Salaah Al-Yahyaei following a fast break.

Despite having an advantage in possession and seven corner kicks, China struggled to test Oman's goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini with zero shot on target.

China concluded their World Cup qualifiers fifth in Group B with six points from one win, three draws and six losses.