China's World Cup path gets tougher after losing to Uzbekistan

Updated: 2016-10-12 10:15

(Xinhua)

Players fights for the ball during their FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying match between China and Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct 11, 2016. China lost the match 0-2. [Photo/Xinhua]

TASHKENT - China's hope to advance to 2018 FIFA World Cup finals dimmed as they lost 2-0 to Uzbekistan here on Tuesday night, collecting only one point from four matches played and standing last but one in the six-team Group B.

China coach Gao Hongbo, 50, announced his resignation at the post-match press conference.

Gao retook the rein of the Chinese national team in February 2016 and led the team to beat Qatar 2-0 at home on March 29 to clinch the last ticket to the Asian Zone qualifying tournament last round which comprises 12 teams.

China were drawn into Group B with South Korea, Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar and Syria. After the one-year-long round-robin home-and-away competitions, the top two finishers will advance to Russia directly and the third finisher will have playoff with its counterpart in Group A.

So far, China lost 3-2 to South Korea, 2-0 to Uzbeikistan on road, tied Iran 0-0 and lost 1-0 to Syria at home.

Having stunned by Syria on Oct. 6, China knew that the match against Uzbekistan became a do-or-die duel in a sense. But Chinese fans were disappointed again, not only at the result, but also at the poor performance of the whole team in the game.