Courtesy: Football Asia.com

20/4/2004 - Alisher Nikimbaev/FootballAsia

China hold Thailand to shock draw

Macau - The most notable result on Day Four of the 2004 World Futsal Championship - Asian Qualifiers was China's 2-2 draw with Thailand.

China have appeared in two AFC Futsal Championships to date, losing all of their games. A 5-1 win over Malaysia in their first game of this tournament at the weekend was followed up yesterday by an even more impressive result against the Asean champions.

All four goals came in the first 17 minutes with Thailand taking the lead in the sixth minute through skipper Yutthana Polsak. Goals in the seventh and 15th minute from Yang Qihua and Wu Zhuoxi gave the Chinese a surprise lead but Yutthana struck again in the 17th minute to rescue a point for the Thais. The draw was Thailand's first in 28 AFC Futsal Championship matches.

The result leaves Group D on a knife-edge, with both China and Thailand on four points and Malaysia on three. China seem assured of a win against Guam, whom they meet today, while the winners of the Thailand/Malaysia clash will also advance. Thailand, who came third in the 2003 AFC Fustal Champinship, will have to improve if they are to make an impression this time round.

Kuwait and Korea Republic are through to the last eight as Group B's representatives, the side from the Middle East seeing off Chinese Taipei 5-1 in the second game of the day. Kuwait and Korea Republic meet later today (Tuesday). The winner of that game will top the group and meet the Group A runners-up, likely to be Uzbekistan.

Ukbeksitan were in action on Monday, notching a 13-1 victory over Cambodia Uzbekistan's defender Anvar Mamedov scored six of his side's goals to take the honour of being the day's leading scorer. Uzbekistan play Hong Kong this afternoon, needing a draw to qualify for the last eight.

Hong Kong secured their first win of the tournament with a 6-3 victory over Indonesia. So Cheung-kwai was the hero for Hong Kong, scoring four of his team's goals.

In the day's other games, Japan, the runners-up in 2003, beat Kyrgyzstan 4-1, and Macau, winless in nine previous matches in three previous AFC Futsal Championships, beat the Philippines 7-3. Macau's captain Goeofredo Cheung scored five times.

Full Results from Day Four

Group A
Cambodia 1 Uzbekistan 13
Hong Kong 6 Indonesia 3

Group B
Chinese Taipei 1 Kuwait 5

Group C
Philippines 3 Macau 7
Japan 4 Kyrgyzstan 1

Group D
China 2 Thailand 2