China secured their place in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup after defeating Iraq 2-0 on Tuesday night. The match was played at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Chinese team had already secured their spot in the semi-finals by beating South Korea 1-0 earlier this month. However, they knew that they would have to perform well against Iraq if they wanted to make it through to the final four.
And they did not disappoint. In the first half, China dominated possession and created several chances, but were unable to find the back of the net. However, in the second half, things changed dramatically.
In the 56th minute, China's top scorer, Zhang Linyan, scored his fourth goal of the tournament to give them the lead. And just three minutes later, substitute Wang Shuai doubled their lead with a stunning strike from outside the box.
The victory was a huge boost for China's campaign in the tournament, as they now have a comfortable lead over South Korea and will be hoping to secure a place in the final four. It was also a morale booster for the team, who had been under pressure to deliver results in recent matches.
Overall, it was a memorable night for China, and one that will go down in history as a defining moment in their quest for the Asian Cup title. They now have a chance to win the trophy for the first time since 2004, and they will be looking to do so with renewed confidence and determination.