Chapter 119: Controlling the Ball on the Goal Line

For the Chinese national team, there are no easy opponents in the final round of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Following an away match against South Korea, they faced Iran in Shenyang for their second game. In the previous match, the Chinese team staged a resilient comeback from two goals down to earn a draw, securing their first point and, more importantly, showing a fighting spirit that gave fans renewed hope.

As the top-ranked team in Asia, Iran entered the match on a high note, having narrowly defeated Qatar 2-0 with two goals in stoppage time. Historically, China had a dismal record against Iran, with only 4 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses in 20 encounters. The last victory dated back to 2009, during Gao Hongbo’s first match in charge, where Gao Lin scored the solitary goal to kick off the "Gao Era" with a win.

Before this match, China had played seven World Cup qualifiers in Shenyang, winning every single one while scoring 16 goals and conceding none. Fifteen years ago, it was in this very "lucky" city of Shenyang that the Chinese men's team first qualified for the World Cup. Notably, this was also the 100th World Cup qualifying match in the history of the Chinese national team.

The team maintained a five-defender formation. With Zheng Zhi sidelined by injury for at least ten days, Zhang Linpeng, Feng Xiaoting, and Li Xuepeng formed the back three, with Ren Hang and Zhao Mingjian on the flanks. In midfield, a recovered Hao Junmin partnered with Huang Bowen and Yu Hai, while Dai Zhiwei continued to lead the attack alongside Wu Lei.

Early in the game, disaster struck before Dai Zhiwei could even register a shot. In the 5th minute, Iran launched a counterattack. Shojaei played a slightly over-hit through ball, and Amiri, realizing he could not reach it, did not pull out of the challenge, crashing his knee directly into Zeng Cheng. The referee immediately issued a yellow card to Amiri. Zeng Cheng, clearly in pain, tried to carry on but soon collapsed, signaling he could not continue. Substitute goalkeeper Gu Chao was rushed into action to guard the net. Zeng Cheng was stretchered off with an ice pack on his left knee before being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

"Damn it!" Dai Zhiwei spat toward Amiri as he watched Zeng Cheng disappear down the tunnel. In Asian football, South Korea was undoubtedly China's primary nemesis, but the most insulting memory in Chinese football history had been dealt by the Iranians.

"Old grudges and new scores—damn it, I’m going to wipe out this shame today!" Dai Zhiwei silently vowed. Iran was a powerhouse in Asia, but Dai had already breached the defenses of Real Madrid and Barcelona; he had no reason to fear them.

As the match progressed, Iran gradually neutralized China's early momentum. In the 14th minute, Huang Bowen delivered a precise long ball that Dai Zhiwei controlled beautifully, only for his right-footed curling effort to shave the outside of the post. A minute later, Dai’s lob from the edge of the box was plucked out of the air by goalkeeper Beiranvand. Throughout the first half, Dai was stifled by Iran’s "sea of people" tactics; his frequent fouls and falls drew continuous boos from the Chinese crowd.

At halftime, coach Alain Perrin checked on Dai, who had been heavily tackled just before the break. "It’s just a knock; if it were worse, it would be a disaster," the team doctor said with relief. Perrin, however, frowned. Having already lost Zheng Zhi and Zeng Cheng, losing Dai would be catastrophic. "I'm fine!" Dai insisted. He was determined to play the second half and score.

Perrin nodded. He admired the fighting spirit, though he didn't want to waste Dai’s sacrifice. He instructed Huang Bowen to push forward more aggressively and told Hao Junmin not to fear the counterattacks.

The halftime break did nothing to dampen the fans' enthusiasm; the singing at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center grew louder, with waves of spectators creating an electric atmosphere.

At the start of the second half, Dai Zhiwei intentionally dropped deeper, luring the Iranian center-backs out and occupying their midfielders, creating space for Huang and Hao. Dai’s movement ignited the team, and their coordination began to resemble their club-level form. Iran became passive as the Chinese team dictated play. Dai’s deep positioning confused the Iranian defense; when their defenders stopped tracking him at the edge of the box, Wu Lei exploited the space. China created several chances, but the failure to convert them frustrated Perrin.

Perrin’s patience finally snapped. "Zhang, get ready!" he barked. Young striker Zhang Yuning replaced Wu Lei. In a subsequent move, Dai dropped deep again, pulling the defense out. Zhang Yuning made a decoy run, keeping his distance.

"Here!" Dai roared. The Iranian defenders panicked as Dai stood unmarked. Zhang Yuning played a through ball to him. As the defender rushed to challenge, Dai didn't dribble; he immediately played a long pass back with his right foot and sprinted into the box. The pass found Hao Junmin on the right wing, who cut inside and drove toward the goal. With Iranian defenders rushing to intercept, Hao squared the ball to Dai, who had surged into the box.

"Beautiful! One-on-one!" shouted commentator He Wei, knowing Dai had never missed a one-on-one chance. Beiranvand charged out, but Dai performed a feint to the left, then a sharp body shift to the right, gliding past the keeper like smoke.

"He’s past him! Dai is facing an empty net... wait, what?" He Wei sounded as if he were being choked. "Dai stopped the ball!"

Just two steps from the goal line, Dai Zhiwei tapped the ball and pinned it to the line with his left foot.

The scene flashed back to December 9, 2006. During the Doha Asian Games, Iranian forward Borhani had rounded the Chinese keeper but stopped on the goal line to beckon his teammates before scoring, a moment of profound humiliation for Chinese football.

Dai Zhiwei held the ball on the line for a full second, then unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike—a "Tiger Shot"—that tore into the net. 1-0!

The stadium erupted. Dai did not celebrate in front of the Iranian goal; instead, he sprinted to the corner flag and crossed his index fingers to form a "ten" sign. Ten years of shame, avenged today!

The Iranian players were incensed, but they were quickly swarmed by Chinese players and the roar of the crowd, forcing them to back down. Perrin jumped for joy, his fists pumping. Though Iran pushed forward desperately in the final minutes, they failed to equalize. In the dying moments, Zhang Yuning missed a chance to seal the game, but it mattered little.

With a 1-0 victory, China secured their first win of the final round. Following a draw against South Korea and a win over Iran, the Chinese team had enjoyed a dream start to their campaign.