Socceroo history: our last three games against China

A sensational atmosphere awaits in Brisbane on Thursday night as our Socceroos take on the impressive China in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup. And we cannot wait.

These two nations have been involved in some massive games in the past but none with so much riding on it as this one at Brisbane Stadium.

Ahead of this blockbuster encounter, take a look back at the last three meetings between Australia and China, which has seen the Chinese triumph on two occasions.

Australia 3-4 China

July 28, 2013 in Seoul

Australia’s first appearance at the East Asian Cup might have ended without a win but included a seven-goal thriller with the Chinese in Seoul. Holger Osieck’s experimental and largely locally-based side made a slow start, going behind after just four minutes through a goal to Yu Dabao. The Socceroos drew level just before the half hour mark when then-Western Sydney Wanderers FC midfielder Aaron Mooy let fly with a thunderbolt from 30 metres out. 

The gripping contest stayed level until 10 minutes into the second half when China edged in front thanks Sun Ke’s strike. Two goals in two minutes by Yang Xu and Wu Lei with just 10 minutes left gave China an unassailable 4-1 advantage before the Socceroos salvaged some pride either side of injury-time as Adam Taggart and Mitchell Duke got their name on the scoresheet. 

The match was also the international debuts for Newcastle Jets pair Josh Brillante and goal-keeper Mark Birighitti.

Australia 0-1 China

June 22, 2008 in Sydney

With the Socceroos already assured of progression to the next stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying, it was a youthful, inexperienced and largely Hyundai A-League-based side that was selected by coach Pim Verbeek. 

The likes of Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Ruben Zadkovich, Matthew Spiranovic, Kristian Sarkies and Bruce Djite were all given a run as Verbeek relied predominantly on Olympic under-23 squad members. 

But with more than 70,000 fans inside Stadium Australia, the move back-fired as an early Sun Xiang goal gave the visitors a 1-0 win. A missed penalty by China’s current-day skipper Zheng Zhi denied them an even bigger victory but they held on to consign the Green and Gold to their first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil in 27 years.

China 0-0 Australia 

March 26, 2008 in Kunming

The Chinese were in camp for about a month in the lead and tried all the tricks to gain an advantage, playing the match in the altitude of Kunming. And it almost paid off as only a late penalty save by the brilliant Mark Schwarzer enabled Australia to escape with a hard-earned point. 
 
Schwarzer looked like being the villain after bringing down Qu Bo in the box two minutes from time but redeemed himself by saving Shao Jiayi’s weak spot-kick. Injuries to a host of key strikers blunted the Socceroos attack and their cause wasn’t helped when Archie Thompson was forced off inside 10 minutes. 
 
But they dug in and defended stoutly to escape with a point in a hostile and tricky environment.

The Socceroos will face China PR in the Quarter-Finals of the AFC Asian Cup at Brisbane Stadium on Thursday 22 January (8.30pm local kick off). Click here to purchase tickets.

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