Syria beat China 2-1 in FIFA World Cup qualifier

DUBAI -- Defender Zhang Linpeng's own goal in the second half gifted Syria a 2-1 win over China in Group A of the Asian Preliminary Qualification Round 2 of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 here on Thursday.

Osama Omari broke the deadlock for Syria in the 19th minute with a header in the box, after Mahmoud Al Mavas sent a pinpoint cross from right side.

Forward Wu Lei equalized for China 10 minutes later as he sent Wu Xi's through ball home with a volley.

Zhang Linpeng tried to clear Omar Kharbin's cross from the right side of the box, but only saw the ball go into his own goal in the 76th minute.