BANGKOK - China upset the form book with a stunning 4-1 victory over Uzbekistan at Hua Mark Stadium and make it through to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships

Source the-afc.com

BANGKOK - China upset the form book with a stunning 4-1 victory over Uzbekistan at Hua Mark Stadium and make it through to the semi-finals of the AFC Futsal Championships.

Farinha's side broke the deadlock just before half-time before two late goals sealed the result and a place in the FIFA Futsal World Cup later in the year.

An evenly-contested opening period saw few clear cut chances for either side.

Wang Wei went close for China with a left-footed strike that flew just over and Zhang Xiao saw a chance smothered by Uzbekistan keeper Rustam Umarov.

Farruh Farhutdinov then had a sight of goal but slipped and allowed China keeper Zheng Tao to scramble the ball away.

And China took the lead seconds before the interval when Liu Xinyi managed to turn in the area before poking the ball past Umarov.

Liu wriggled free once again at the start of the second period but his shot was well blocked by Umarov and the Uzbekistan keeper was called into action once again as the ball broke to Liang Shuang after Liu's run.

Uzbekistan came close to equalising when Ilhom Yusupdjanov's free-kick through a crowd of players fell to Gulomjon Mamdjonov but he hit the outside of the post from a tight angle.

But it was China who doubled their lead when Wu Zhuoxi intercepted a pass, strode forward and despatched a low right-footed strike that went in via the post.

Uzbekistan reduced the deficit with just over three minutes remaining as Alexander Petrov decided to pull his keeper and the extra man paid dividends as Nikolay Odushev crossed for Hurshid Tajibaev to score.

But Li Xin put the result beyond doubt with one minute ten seconds on the clock as he stormed down the right before slotting the ball under Umarov.

Bahodir Ahmedov then saw red for a deliberate handball when on in place of Umarov and Liang smashed home the resultant free-kick to send China into the last four.