The backward Syria began a fierce counterattack.

After all, they also have the hope of qualifying for the World Cup play-offs.

Currently, Syria and China have five points together, and Syria has one more goal difference than the Chinese team. It can be said that the two teams are the direct competitors.

If they lose to the Chinese team in this game, they will be at a disadvantage in the competition with the Chinese team.

This is their home court, and of course they have to score three points.

Syria's offensive was very fierce, and the Chinese fans in front of the TV were worried for a while. The excitement after the Chinese team took the lead was gone. Now there is only worry left, worrying that the Chinese team will get Syria back at the last moment.

There is no difference between a draw and a failure.

However, Syria can fully accept this draw - after the draw, they have nine points, which is still three points away from Uzbekistan. In the next round, Uzbekistan will fight to the death with the Chinese team. When that happens, they will stand on the side of the Chinese team and cheer for the Chinese team. I hope that the Chinese team can defeat Uzbekistan. After they defeat Qatar, will they tie Uzbekistan in points soon?

Just when everyone was uneasy, Gao Zheng stood up again.

In the 86th minute, when he was competing with Syrian players at the front of the penalty area, the latter had an obvious suppression move, and the referee called a foul and awarded the Chinese team a free kick 28 meters away from the goal.

"This free kick is very good!" He Ping said excitedly. "It is facing the goal, and it is not far away. Gao Zheng personally came to take the free kick..."

Many Chinese fans in front of the TV either sat upright on the sofa or chair, or simply stood up, folded their hands and muttered to themselves.

If Gao Zheng can score this goal, the Chinese team will secure the victory, because it is almost impossible for Syria to score two goals in the remaining minutes of the game to equalize the score.

Gao Zheng put on the football and the Syrian wall was also built.

Obviously, Syrian players know Gao Zheng's free kick skills, so every player frowned and seemed very nervous.

Seeing them looking frowning, Gao Zheng grinned at them, as if he was trying to persuade them to rest.

Don't worry, no matter what expression you do, you can't change the result. Since that's the case, why not smile?

After laughing, Gao Zheng took two steps back and took a look.

The whistle sounded, he helped to run and started his feet!

The football drew an arc, bypassed the top of the wall that was jumping up hard, and rushed straight to the upper right corner of the goal.

Although Syrian goalkeeper Alma rushed over, the distance was too far. He didn't touch the football at all, and the football had already entered the goal!

"Gao Zheng—!! Beautiful!! So steady!!!" He Ping clapped his hands excitedly and shouted. "3:1! In the 86 minutes, the Chinese team led Syria two goals!! This is the goal that locked the victory!!"

The fans who sat upright in front of the TV stood up, and the fans standing jumped up, and the huge rock pressing on all of them was finally removed, and they gained the right to breathe.

Although the game has not ended, no one doubts the victory of the Chinese team.

※※※

"...In a key top 12 match held last night in Beijing time, with Gao Zheng's two goals and one assist, the Chinese team defeated Syria 3:1 away and won a crucial three-pointer! Qatar then unexpectedly defeated South Korea 3:2 at home... The current situation in this group is that Iran has 20 points, and has qualified from the group in advance, and has obtained the qualification to participate in the final circle of next year's Russia World Cup. South Korea ranks second with thirteen points, Uzbekistan ranks third with twelve points, and after defeating Syria, the Chinese team has become fourth with eight points, and only four points away from the third place Uzbekistan. The two sides have a direct match next... Syria has eight points, but because the goal difference is less than the Chinese team, Qatar ranks fifth with six points, and currently ranks at the bottom of the six points..."

"The Chinese team won the life-and-death battle. But we can't be happy too early, because every game in the next game is a life-and-death battle. On August 31, the Chinese team will face Uzbekistan at home, and this game can only be won, and it is not acceptable to draw or defeat. Even if the Chinese team defeats Uzbekistan, at most it will only narrow the point gap from four points to one point, which is not enough. They still need to defeat Qatar away in the last round of the top 12 games, and at the same time, they hope that Uzbekistan cannot win the South Korean team at home... In the final analysis, they still have to put their destiny on others. But this is better than having nowhere to put their destiny..."

"...Let's analyze, in the last top 12 match, will the South Korean team deliberately lose to Uzbekistan on the road? After the unexpected loss to Qatar, the South Korean team only has thirteen points, only one point ahead of Uzbekistan. Next, they will usher in the game against Iran at home. Although Iran has obtained the right to qualify in advance, it does not mean that Iran will completely give up this game. After all, West Asian football and East Asian football have always had hatred, and Iran does not need to play South Korean team at this time. It can be imagined how difficult it is for the South Korean team to win this game... If the South Korean team can win, and Uzbekistan also loses the ball, then the South Korean team will lead Uzbekistan four points. In the last round, they will be able to see how difficult it is for South Korean team to win this game... If the South Korean team can win, and Uzbekistan also loses the ball, then the South Korean team will lead Uzbekistan four points. In the last round, they will be able to do so.

Even if they lose to Uzbekistan away, it will not affect their participation in the World Cup. If this is the case, the South Korean team will really be able to let go. After all, the Korean people's sports ethics... the whole world knows what's going on. But what if the South Korean team fails to win the game against Iran at home? Then they will lead Uzbekistan by two points, and the South Korean team will lose to Uzbekistan in the last game, then the South Korean team will have to play the playoffs... This is an absolutely unacceptable result for the South Korean team... So everything depends on the result of the penultimate round of the top 12 games. In short, the Chinese team still has hope. The South Korean team does not lose to Uzbekistan for sports ethics, their future and destiny."

"Although there is still little hope for advancement to the World Cup, everyone has seen hope. There are still two top 12 games left in the next. I hope that the young men of the Chinese team can grit their teeth and do their own things. Even if they cannot advance, we can at least hold our heads up and say "do our best"! Come on, the Chinese team!"

...

After winning this game with Syria, both traditional media and the Internet were filled with various praises and praises to the Chinese team.

And this scene was completely invisible before Gao Zheng returned.

After Gao Zheng was injured, the Chinese team played four top 12 games, and there was almost a lot of criticism before and after the game.

The Chinese team players were like rats crossing the street, and everyone shouted and beat them.

Although some calm and rational people said that the Chinese team had not played in the top 12 games for fifteen years, no one in the team had this experience, and Gao Zheng was seriously injured. This is the performance the team should have, and there is nothing to scold. If Gao Zheng had not been able to do so, the Chinese team would not even be qualified to participate in the top 12 games, let alone compete for the World Cup qualification.

However, most people don’t care about these voices. They only know one thing - China is a big country, and in any field, it should be a big country. If you don’t become a boss, it is a failure. Science and technology, education, culture, economy, and military should all aim to be a boss, and it should be the same in football.

It completely ignores the fact that China's football population is pitifully small, and in football, China is a complete "small country" and a "weak country".

Of course, there is no need to argue about this issue now, because Gao Zheng is back, regardless of whether the Chinese team can participate in the World Cup in the end, at least from the perspective of the process, Gao Zheng has satisfied all the most demanding critics.

Since his return, the Chinese team has not lost the ball. They defeated South Korea 3-0 at home and tied Iran 1:1 away. They were not at a disadvantage in the face of the strongest force in Asian football. Then they defeated Syria 3-1, retaining their hope of qualifying.

In fact, Chinese football performed so poorly before, and was getting further and further away from the Russian World Cup. It was not that they were not good enough with strong teams, but that they played too badly with teams like Syria and Qatar. If they won both games between Syria and Qatar at home, they would have six points at least. With the seven points after Gao Zheng's return, the 13-point Chinese team should now compete with the South Korean team for the second place in the group and directly qualify.

Until now, many Chinese fans regret the team's performance in the first half.

However, when the Chinese team was playing like that in the first half, the Chinese team is not dead yet and still has a chance to compete for the World Cup quota. The performance in the second half is really impeccable.
Chapter completed!