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An early Saudi Arabia own goal and an extra-man advantage from the 19th minute — even in the wildest fantasies of Chinese fans, they couldn't have asked for a better, and luckier, start to a soccer match. But, they say it's the hope that kills you. Such good fortune was not enough to dig China's men's national team out of the mire of a string of recent disappointments, as it squandered a 1-0 lead at home, eventually losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. To open its campaign in the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup with two defeats in a row — one of which being a humiliating 7-0 rout by Japan last week — Team China is left propping up the table as the only team without a point in Group C. ▲ Zhang Yuning (right) and Alan cut dejected figures after Team China's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in Dalian, Liaoning province, on Tuesday. It's the second loss in as many games in the third phase of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Xinhua Powerh
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