CHINA advanced to the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 after a 2-0 victory over Qatar on Tuesday.

    Second-half goals from Huang Bowen and Wu Lei were enough to defeat the group leaders and send China through to the last 12 as one of the best four runners-up from the eight groups, as the second round of Asian qualification concluded.

    China joins group winners Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Qatar and the other three best second-place teams United Arab Emirates, Syria and Iraq in the final stage for the 2018 tournament in Russia.

    Backed by almost 50,000 fans, China knew that nothing less than a win would keep their hopes alive and Huang’s low shot from the edge of the area after 57 minutes broke the deadlock against Group E winner Qatar.

    China was helped in its cause by the Philippines’ 3-2 upset of North Korea in Manila. North Korea appeared to be heading for victory and into the next round when they led 2-1, but conceded two goals in the final six minutes to crash out of contention.

    China has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002.

    Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup, was lackluster and showed little threat despite its perfect record in its other qualifying games.

    China brought greater organization and energy, boosted by a raucous home crowd in the ancient capital of Xi’an.

    “It was a tough game,” said China coach Gao Hongbo. “But the players did what they had to do. We will enjoy this result for a little while before thinking about what comes next.”

    “My luck was good, it was a team effort,” Huang told state broadcaster CCTV, before adding: “Chinese soccer is gradually improving.”

    Qualification for the next phase was a major turn-around for China, which sacked French coach Alain Perrin after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Hong Kong in November left its campaign hanging by a thread.

    Earlier, a first-half double from Tim Cahill helped Australia to a 5-1 win over Jordan.

    Aaron Mooy also scored as Australia went 3-0 up at halftime before Tomas Rogic and Massimo Luongo completed the scoring for the host. Abdallah Deeb notched a late consolation goal in Harry Redknapp’s last match in charge of Jordan.

    Former Tottenham manager Redknapp agreed a two-game deal for Jordan’s final qualifiers. It beat Bangladesh 8-0 before Tuesday’s loss.

    The result meant Australia finished top of Group B and ended Jordan’s hopes of the final stage.

    “They were a much stronger team than we were,” Redknapp told Australian media. “They were sharper. I suppose it’s difficult with the fitness levels with the lads mostly playing in Jordan in the football there, which is not such a high standard and I thought that showed tonight. There was a big gulf in class tonight.”

    Two groups of six teams contest the final round of qualifiers beginning in September with the top two from each group automatically qualifying for Russia.

    The draw is scheduled to take place April 12.(SD-Agencies)