Wu Xi (left) of China vies for a header against Kassem El Zein (center) and Walid Shour of Lebanon during the Group A match between China and Lebanon at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 in Doha, Qatar, Jan 17, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

With zero wins and zero goals to its name, the Chinese men’s soccer team is on the verge of a group stage exit from the ongoing Asian Cup in Qatar. The only way to guarantee a ticket to the knockout stage is to topple tournament host Qatar in its final Group A match.

Team China posted another 0-0 draw against Lebanon on Wednesday, following its goalless tie with Tajikistan in its opening match on Saturday. With only 2 points in the pocket, the squad will lose its second place position in the group if either Tajikistan or Lebanon emerge victorious from their match on Jan 22.

“It’s pity that we failed to secure a win. I felt that we played well in certain areas, we put huge pressure on the opposition in midfield and we maintained a quick pace. Despite that, we failed to finish a single shot,” Team China striker Zhang Yuning told media after the match.

So, all that we can do is to put pressure on the opposition as much as possible, and create more chances. We did well in that regard during the match, and we did create some problems for them on the pitch. However, we did not create a clear-cut chance to score. We came close though. So, for the next match, all I hope for is a winning goal and some better luck.

Zhang Yuning, Team China striker

“In terms of my own performance, I hadn’t been in the starting XI of the national team for a while, and I was for this match. I just feel that, under the current circumstances, we do not have enough advantage over any team at top-level Asian tournaments.

“So, all that we can do is to put pressure on the opposition as much as possible, and create more chances. We did well in that regard during the match, and we did create some problems for them on the pitch. However, we did not create a clear-cut chance to score. We came close though. So, for the next match, all I hope for is a winning goal and some better luck.”

Zhang was not wrong about Team China’s performance. There were 15 attempts on goal, with 7 on target. During their opening match, against arguably weaker opposition, it only managed 2 shots on target out of 10 attempts. 

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For head coach Aleksandar Jankovic, the lack of a goal was down to sheer hard luck. At the post match news conference, the Serbian said that the team had created enough chances, but failed to score, so he had nothing more to say to his players, who had tried hard enough.

As for the team’s next match against the host Qatar, Jankovic said that the goal remained the same — to win — and that Team China had not yet given up hope of advancing to the next round of the competition.

However, the fans and pundits were not so easily placated by the coach’s pragmatism, or the second goalless draw in a row. 

The team’s performance generated a number of trending topics across Chinese social media, with countless fans again expressing their frustration. 

One particular target for the fans’ ire was Shanghai Port forward Wu Lei, who missed what many would consider a “sitter” on 64 minutes, when a fizzing Dai Weijun cross into the box was deflected by the Lebanese keeper onto the foot of Wu, who tried to stroke it deftly home. 

Mostafa Matar (center), goalkeeper of Lebanon, makes a save during the Group A match between China and Lebanon at AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 in Doha, Qatar, Jan 17, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

However, just as the Chinese fans were rising out of their seats in celebration, Lebanese center back Khalil Khamis pulled off a heroic, full-stretch goal line clearance to deny China a certain score. As a result, the hashtag “Wu Lei missed the shot” had been viewed over 42 million times by Thursday morning.

“I’m really not satisfied with the result. I’m not defending Wu Lei, but I just want to say that the team did not give enough support to its strikers, and all the chances the team created were not smooth enough,” said retired Team China, Crystal Palace and Manchester City defender Sun Jihai during a live postmatch broadcast.

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“No one can be happy with another tie. Facing Lebanon, we should have pocketed the three points easily. That should be the norm for Team China. In terms of the game, we can see some improvement of the squad, but it’s not nearly enough. 

To look on the bright side, Team China did not concede a goal in the last two games. Therefore, if the team can manage to get a third draw, statistically speaking, it is still possible to become one of the best third-place finishers to advance.

Peng Weiguo, former China international

“Why did we fail to score? It’s because we did not have enough good chances. That can be traced back to not having the ability to move the ball smoothly and threaten our opponents’ defensive line.

“In other words, we stumbled at their defense and, in this kind of situation, how can we count on the strikers to finish the shot? With such service, no matter how good the strikers are, it will be very hard for them to transform that into goals.”

Team China faces host Qatar on Monday. With two victories, the defending champion already has its eyes set on the knockout stage. 

A total of 24 teams compete across six groups, with the top two from each group, and the four best third-place finishers, advancing to the round of 16. 

It means that the only way Team China can realistically guarantee it will advance is to win against Qatar.

“To look on the bright side, Team China did not concede a goal in the last two games. Therefore, if the team can manage to get a third draw, statistically speaking, it is still possible to become one of the best third-place finishers to advance,” said former China international, Peng Weiguo. 

“And in terms of why it’s hard for Team China to score, I think the problem is still the midfield. The midfielders we have now are too conservative. 

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“We need them to be more creative. They lack experience, and we need to form more combinations to attack.”