FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC

Australia vs China, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - AFC, Third Round

· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC
  • 45'+2': Lewis Miller
  • 53': Craig Goodwin
  • 90'+2': Nishan Velupillay
FT
3 - 1
  • 20': Xie Wenneng

Popovic's Socceroos sink China to revive World Cup hope

New coach Tony Popovic has steered the Socceroos to a 3-1 victory against China to revitalise hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

Match Commentary

  • 20': Xie Wenneng (China) Goal at 20'
  • 36': Li Lei (China) Yellow Card at 36'
  • 45'+2': Lewis Miller (Australia) Goal at 47'
  • 45': Behram Abduweli (China) Substitution at 45'
  • 45': Jason Geria (Australia) Substitution at 45'
  • 45': Riley McGree (Australia) Substitution at 45'
  • 53': Craig Goodwin (Australia) Goal at 53'
  • 66': Wang Shangyuan (China) Yellow Card at 66'
  • 68': Jin Cheng (China) Substitution at 68'
  • 68': Liangming Lin (China) Substitution at 68'
  • 75': Jordan Bos (Australia) Substitution at 75'
  • 77': Liu Yang (China) Substitution at 77'
  • 83': Nishan Velupillay (Australia) Substitution at 83'
  • 90'+2': Nishan Velupillay (Australia) Goal at 92'
  • 90'+4': Ajdin Hrustic (Australia) Substitution at 94'

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/chn.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originCHN AUShttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/aus.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
12 Fouls 9
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
0 Offsides 0
3 Corner Kicks 3
1 Saves 0
27.3 Possession 72.7
7 SHOTS 18
1 ON GOAL 4
0.1 On Target % 0.2
0 Penalty Goals 0
0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
0 Accurate Passes 0
0 Passes 0
0.0 Pass Completion % 0.0
0 Accurate Crosses 0
0 Crosses 0
0.0 Cross % 0.0
0 Long Balls 0
0 Accurate Long Balls 0
0.0 Long Balls % 0.0
4 Blocked Shots 3
0 Effective Tackles 0
0 Tackles 0
0.0 Tackle % 0.0
0 Interceptions 0
0 Effective Clearances 0
0 Clearances 0

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC

Venue: Adelaide Oval
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Attendance: 46,219

WCQ - AFC Standings

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Japan 4 +14 10
2 Australia 4 +1 5
3 Saudi Arabia 4 -1 5
4 Bahrain 4 -4 5
Full Standings

Line-Ups

AUS Australia (3-4-2-1)

No. Name
18 Joe Gauci (GK)
19 Harry Souttar
4 Kye Rowles
2 Thomas Deng
22 Jackson Irvine
13 Aiden O'Neill
16 Aziz Behich
3 Lewis Miller
15 Mitchell Duke
11 Nestory Irankunda
23 Craig Goodwin

CHN China (4-4-2)

No. Name
14 Wang Dalei (GK)
16 Jiang Shenglong
2 Jiang Guangtai
4 Li Lei Yellow Card
13 Hu Hetao
8 Li Yuanyi
6 Wang Shangyuan Yellow Card
10 Wei Shihao
20 Xie Wenneng
9 Yuning Zhang
17 Fernandinho

WCQ - AFC News

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Foreign-born heritage imports vs. homegrown Indonesian talent: Shin Tae-Yong's balancing act
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With Indonesia's influx of foreign-born imports, Shin Tae-Yong now faces a tricky balancing act.

Popovic lays foundations for rest of Socceroos' WCQ campaign
Popovic lays foundations for rest of Socceroos' WCQ campaign

Three at the back, two wing-backs bombing forward and the ability to change things at the break. Australia now knows what to expect from Tony Popovic's Socceroos.

In Son Heung-Min's absence, Oh Hyeon-Gyu stakes claim to be South Korea's main man in attack
In Son Heung-Min's absence, Oh Hyeon-Gyu stakes claim to be South Korea's main man in attack

South Korea's recent struggles to settle on their first-choice striker might just have been solved by Oh Hyeon-Gyu.

Japan nearly masters of their own downfall but quality in reserve comes to the rescue
Japan nearly masters of their own downfall but quality in reserve comes to the rescue

Japan nearly contrived to lose to Australia but had too much quality waiting in the wings to be defeated.