Chinese top of soccer group

Press, 14 November 1981, Page 64

Chinese top of soccer group

NZPA-Reuter Kuala Lumpur China moved to the top of the Asia-Oceania World Cup soccer qualifying group yesterday with a 4-2 win over Saudi Arabia after being down, 0-2, at half-time. In the sixteenth minute Zuo Shusheng blasted the ball home from just inside the box. A minute later Chen Jingang headed the ball in from close range with the Saudi defence in total disarray.

The Chinese took the lead in the seventy-seventh minute with a classic volley by their tricky little winger who latched on to a cross by the mid-fielder, Chen Xirong. The Chinese captain, Chi Shangbin, put the issue beyond doubt a minute before the end when he scored after a goal-line tussle with a Saudi defender.

The Saudis, urged on by their enthusiastic supporters, had started at a scorching pace. The Chinese were rocked by a header in the tenth minute by a defender, Ahmed Al-Nefawy, followed by a fierce drive from Majid Abdullah a minute later. The Chinese now have five points from four games and will play the return match next Thursday, which is also being held in Kuala Lumpur because the two countries have no diplomatic relations.

Asia-Oceania group standings are.—

The top two countries qualify | for the World Cup finals in Spain I next year. |

P W D L F A Pt China 4 2 11 7 3 5 Kuwait 3 2 0 1 3 4 4 N.Z. 3 111 2 2 3 Saudi Ar. 2 0 0 2 2 5 0