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China Qualifies For World Cup Finals  

Oct 08, 2001 - China beat Oman 1-0 to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1957 when China first entered the competition. The uninspiring but sufficient chinese performance helped the country continue its year of sporting celebration as in the 35th minute Yu Genwei received a well placed header from Hao Haidong to strike the decisive ball past Omani goalkeeper Suleiman Khamis. Oman is considered a minnow on the world stage but it is still with great credit to Bora Milutinovic, the Chinese team's Serbian coach, that China have qualified for this World Cup when the Chinese Professional Soccer League (CPSL) has been so plagued by corruption. The contract with Milutinovic, who makes China the fifth team he has coached to a place in a World Cup after Nigeria, United States, Costa Rica and Mexico, was to take China to qualification. Negotiations are now underway with the Chinese Football Association to determine his future. China was earlier this year awarded the contract to become host city for the 2008 Olympic games. China can use their remaining two matches, against Qatar and Uzbekistan, to help prepare their team for what will be much tougher competition in next June.

Source:  WSN.com