China PR’s hopes of reaching the final phase of Asian Zone qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ remain alive – at least temporarily. Jose Camacho’s side required victory in Singapore to avoid elimination, and they achieved it in some style.
Goals from Yu Hai and Li Weifeng put the visitors in command at the Jalan Besar Stadium, before a Zheng Zheng double sealed a 4-0 win that moved them on to six points, three behind Iraq, who are second in Group A.
The Iraqis require just a point from their final two games – later today in Jordan or at home to Singapore on 29 February – to go through and end Chinese chances of qualifying for a second FIFA World Cup, but Camacho was nevertheless pleased with his side’s performance in Kallang.
"We scored first, so that made it easier for us,” said the 56-year-old, who previously coached Spain, Real Madrid and Benfica. “Like in the last two games against Jordan and Iraq, we created numerous chances in the first half. The only difference this time was the result, as we won.”
Camacho was nonetheless pessimistic on China’s chances of pipping Iraq to second place in the pool behind Jordan: “I am happy with the outcome against Singapore, but from a qualifying point of view our victory may have come too late.”
Camacho, formerly a no-nonsense defender who helped Real win nine La Liga titles during the 1970s and ‘80s, assumed the China reins in August.
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