Ball boy has Chinese goalie Wang in joy

Canberra - Life could hardly get any better for goalkeeper Wang Dalei who saved a vital penalty on his birthday and then welcomed the birth of his daughter as China shocked Uzbekistan.

China's goalkeeper Wang Dalei, seen in action during their first round AFC Asian Cup match against Saudi Arabia, at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, on January 10, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

Wang, once plagued by controversy, has enjoyed nothing but good fortune in Australia as Alain Perrin's China have romped to their first Asian Cup quarter-final in 11 years.

Tattooed Wang enjoyed a huge stroke of luck in the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia when, on the advice of a 12-year-old ballboy, he dived the right way to save Naif Hazazi's penalty.

And the stars realigned for Wang on Wednesday when China's 2-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan coincided with the birth of his daughter.

"My daughter was due on the 13th but she was born on the day of the match. The victory was a great birthday gift for her," Wang told AFP in Canberra.

The 26-year-old Shandong Luneng stopper is enjoying the tournament of his life, but things have not always been so smooth.

In 2010, he was forced into a grovelling apology and suspended for calling supporters "dogs" and "morons" after China's defeat to Japan at the Asian Games in Guangzhou.

Wang said he hoped Brisbane ball boy Stephan White, who was hailed as a hero in China and invited to their game against Uzbekistan, would also come to their final Group B match against North Korea on Sunday.

"I saw him sitting in the stands with his mother at the Uzbekistan game," said Wang. I hope he can come to the next match because he is very lucky for us."

French coach Alain Perrin promised champagne corks would be popping following the Uzbek win, which gave China their best start to an Asian Cup in 27 years.

But Wang suggested that the strongest thing he drank was jasmine tea. "We just celebrated in a simple Chinese way and didn't drink any alcohol because there are still matches to play," he said.

China, who have never won the Asian Cup but now take on the role of dark horses, face neighbours North Korea in Canberra with top spot in the group already guaranteed.

But Perrin said the twice runners-up would prefer to avoid free-scoring Australia in the quarter-finals. They will be watching closely when the hosts play South Korea in their top-of-the-table Group A clash on Saturday.

"Lots of teams are strong, with quality," Perrin told AFP. "We don't mind which team we have to play but maybe Australia are (best) to avoid because they are at home and that would be difficult."