Already having qualified for the quarter finals, China will look to secure top spot in the group when they face a DPR Korea side playing for pride, after two losses in their opening two games. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8pm (AEDT) for an entertaining clash.
A point against bottom placed DPR Korea will be good enough for Alain Perrin’s side to win the group, but after showing plenty of steel in their come-from-behind win against Uzbekistan in Brisbane during the group, Perrin and his charges will be favourites to take all three.
Following the win against Uzbekistan, Perrin allowed his side to celebrate with two bottles of champagne. Yes two full bottles!
“After our first win, we just celebrated among the coaching staff but tonight, I want the players to join us,” the Frenchman told media after the win on Wednesday night.
Perhaps the surprise packet of the tournament so far, China are playing confident, free-flowing football and with the pressure off after securing qualification to the knockout stage Perrin has said his side can relax just a little for the match against DPR Korea.
However, his side would be wise not to relax too much, as despite conceding five and scoring just one, Korea have started aggressively in their opening two matches and coach Jo Tong-sop has indicated China can expect much of the same.
Disappointed to be returning home early, Jo has suggested the skills and level of his players is not high enough to compete against Asia’s best and has urged Dear Leader to make football development a top priority.
Jo was speaking after his side was demolished by Saudi Arabia despite his side taking the lead inside the first 15 minutes and scoring their first Asian Cup goal in 22 years in the process.
The goal, scored by Ryang Yong-gi, capped off a wonderful start for DPR Korea. They hassled and harried the Saudis, who struggled with the physicality of the Chollima in the opening half hour. However, their lack of fitness began to show and it became obvious they were not going to maintain the same tempo for the full 90 minutes.
The result leaves the Chollima rooted to the bottom of the group, facing their third match within a week against a side that can afford to rest some of their star performers. Nonetheless Jo has said his side will do their best to win the match.
So will the Chinese be impeded by a champagne hangover, will DPR Korea break their tournament record of 88 long balls? Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8pm (AEDT) to find out the answers to these critical questions.
pete4
Guest
Just back from the game the crowd was well over the 18k figure reported. No way anything close to 7k available seats
billyelliott
Roar Guru
And that's it from Canberra. China hold on to make it three from three, they were pushed all the way by a plucky DPR Korean side who were just let down by two lapses of concentration. They tried hard but weren't up to it. China looked real good in patches but seemed to lose their way when captain Zheng Zhi was replaced just after half time. Suspect he'll be the key man come Thursday night, AUstralia will go a long way to winning if he can be contained. Final score China 2 DPR Korea 1
billyelliott
Roar Guru
95' DPR Korea really unlucky there. Nearly a shout for a penalty but it was some desperate defending by the Chinese that kept the ball out of the back of the net. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
93' Ball in and it's headed towards goal but Wang Dalei is up to the challenge and it's out for a corner. It's taken short chance for the Chollima but they can't get a good shot off. Another corner. Nothing comes of it. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
92' China holding on. DPR Korea maintaining the pressure. Ball into the box by China but it's good defending that has forced them back. The ball over but it's too deep for the Chinese attacker. DPR Korea come away with it. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+1' Five minutes of added time here. Can DPR Korea get a point!? China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
87' DPR Korea have fought to get back into this game. China had clocked off but the Chollima are pushing for an equaliser . Nice delivery from the free kick but it's a Chinese head away and the follow up wasn't pretty. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
82' Chance for the Chollima ... it's off the crossbar and they can't do anything with the follow up. Well you have to hand it to them, they have tried and tried tonight but the football God's just haven't been kind. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
81' Change for China Li Ang replaces Linpeng Perrin looking to save some of his players for the quarter final v Australia. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
80' Change for DPR Korea Hyok-chol replaced by Choe Won. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
78' Penalty chance.... No. Linpeng looked to have brought down Jong Il-gwan inside the box but the referee un-moved. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
77' Game has slowed allowing China back into it. Can't see them losing it from here, but if DPR Korea can find another level they might have a chance. Still over ten minutes to go in Canberra. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
72' A committed tackle by Han Song-hyok. And he wins the free kick. Linpeng was on the end of it. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
70' Change for China Goalscorer Sun Ke replaced by Wu Xi Change also for Korea DPR Pak Kwang Ryong replaced by So Hyon Uk. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
68' Jong Il-gwan shoots but it's an easy save for Wang Dalei. China look to build again from the back. Draw DPR Korea out and attack quickly but they haven't been able to since their captain was replaced. It breaks down and DPR Korea have the ball. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
66' Crunching tackle from Huikang who picks up a yellow card for his trouble. The game is really starting to open up now. Sun Ke is down with cramp. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
64' Correction - the own goal came from Gao Lin. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
60' Too much on the pass for Yu Hanchao who sees his shot go well over the cross bar. China settling now. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
58' That goal for DPR Korea was correctly judged to be an own goal. And another chance for DPR Korea but Jong Il-Gwan can't bring his header down. They're applying some real pressure on the Chinese who haven't readjusted since their captain went off. China 2 1 DPR Korea
billyelliott
Roar Guru
56' Great ball from Pak Kwang-Ryong that finds Jong Il-Gwan at the back stick. He cuts inside the Chinese defender, it's cleared off the line but it bounces of Chengdong and into the back of the net. Well deserved goal for DPR Korea. China 2 1 DPR Korea