“打平即可出線”卻不能出線似乎已經成為籠罩在中國隊頭頂的一道魔咒。在昨天亞洲杯小組賽最后一輪比賽中，中國隊在戰平烏茲別克斯坦便可進軍八強的大好形勢下，卻再一次黯然出局。中國隊保住了上半場的平局，卻在下半場以0∶3敗北。

The Chinese soccer team (red) has been bundled out of the AFC Asian Cup, after losing to Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday, July 18. [sohu.com]

China failed to reach theknock-outstage after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup here on Wednesday.

All three goals came via free kicks as Dynamo Kiev striker Maksim Shatskikh, midfielder Timur Kapadze and veteran Alexander Geynrikh struck late in the second half to break the hearts of the 2004 runners-up.

Iran finished top of the group on seven points after their 2-0 win over co-hosts Malaysia earlier on Wednesday, with Uzbekistan second on six points. China finished with four points and Malaysia lost all three matches.

China needed only adrawto qualify after a 5-1 victory over Malaysia and a 2-2 draw with Iran. Uzbekistan, who thrashed Malaysia 5-0 after losing 2-1 to Iran, needed to win to reach the last eight.

The match was marred by a serious neck injury to Chinese forward Han Peng who was taken to hospital after a collision with Uzbek goalkeeper Hayrulla Karimov in the final minutes.

Uzbekistan travel to Jakarta to face Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals on Sunday. Iran stay in Malaysia to take on South Korea.

Uzbek coach Rauf Inileyev told reporters: "We spent a lot of time on free kicks because we felt that China were weak in that part of their game. In fact, our whole game-plan worked very well."

Chinese coach Zhu Guanghu, blaming defeat on absence of injured goalkeeper Li Leilei and defender Li Weifeng, is determined to carry on.

"I will not leave football," he said. "The coaching staff and players will learn from this defeat and move forward."

（sohu.com） 

Vocabulary: 

knock-out：熱身

（英語點津陳蓓編輯）