Tajikistan, ranked 106th in the world, knocked out top four UAE 6-4 on aggregate after extra time and a penalty shootout in the Asian Cup 1/8 finals, which ended in the early hours of January 29, Beijing time, and finished in the top eight of the Asian Cup for the first time.
In this match, Tajikistan was the first to break through in the first half. Had it not been for the UAE's extra reading seconds, Tajikistan could have advanced. However, despite being outplayed, the Tajikistan players bit the bullet.
After extra time, all five penalty takers were hit when the physicality ran out in the penalty shootout, while UAE's third player Kanedo failed to withstand the pressure and was flushed out by Tajikistan goalkeeper Yatimov.
With Tajikistan entering the top 8, the Chinese men's soccer team, which has already returned home, has once again generated heated discussions among netizens. Some netizens think: "Tajikistan entered the top 8, while host Qatar had no problem beating Palestine to enter the top 8. If there are two top 8 teams in the same group, the Chinese men's soccer team will be squeezed out and there seems to be nothing wrong with going out!"
Some netizens joked, "From this perspective, it's great that the national soccer team has beaten Tajikistan, which finished in the top eight of the Asian Cup, relying on Zhu Chenjie to create a controversial goal." : "The gold of the national soccer team's third place instantly soars" : "Jankovic: I said Tajikistan was strong and you guys are still laughing at me. ; "Won't the national soccer team repeat the 2002 World Cup episode, with one winner and one third in the same group of opponents?"
Of course, ridicule belongs to ridicule. We have to admit that even our recognized underdogs, Tajikistan, proved that their country's soccer has come a long way through this Asian Cup performance. Perhaps the Chinese men's soccer team should really reflect on this and try to catch up, otherwise the 18th humiliating lowest ranking in the Asian Cup may be further refreshed in the next edition.
