October 14, 2001	Sunday	Rajab 26, 1422

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SHENYANG, China, Oct 13: A dominant Chinese team Saturday showed no mercy to rivals Qatar dispatching them 3-0 and eliminating the Gulf team’s chances of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.

The Chinese side played a controlled game from the outset, as another capacity crowd at Shenyang’s Wulihe Stadium continued China’s week-long celebrations after they qualified for the first time for the World Cup finals by defeating Oman last week.

Yugoslav coach Bora Milutinovic, who now has guided five teams to the World Cup finals, rested defenders Fan Zhiyi and Li Weifeng and allowed a group of youngsters to show their stuff as the home side appeared to be in full preparation for next summer’s tournament.

China scored in the 11th minute when Qatari goalie Hussain Al Romaihi misplayed a well-placed Wu Chengying corner kick that crossed the greater part of the goal mouth to find the head of a diving Su Maozhen, who pushed it over the line.

From then on China was in control of the game as they pushed the ball forward and were rewarded time after time with a Sun Jihai header missing to the left of the goal mouth, while a Wu Chengying cross was flicked away by Al Romaihi from the foot of a charging Qu Bo at the last second.

It didn’t take long for China to notch another goal with midfielder Ma Mingyu taking the ball down inside the left side of the box.

The experienced midfielder waited patiently and then deftly centered the ball to the youngster Qu, who scored his first ever goal for the national side in the 29th minute.

China’s stifling defense kept Qatar at bay the entire first half as the visitors failed to get a shot on goal.

Things didn’t change much in the second period with Wu Chengying’s long ball going just to the left of goal and Hao Haidong terrorizing the Qatari defense and knocking the ball off the far post after dribbling into the six yard box from from the left side.

The veteran Hao finally got a goal of his own in the 57th minute after taking a great midfield pass from Qi Hong, beating the offside trap and sprinting 35 yards to knock the ball over the hapless, outstretched Qatari goalie.

By the 60th minute, Hao took a well deserved rest to thunderous cheers.