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Angry China fans turned on their team and applauded the visiting Syrians off the pitch after what Chinese state media called “another embarrassing defeat”.
China’s Serbian coach Aleksandar Jankovic blamed bad luck for the 1-0 friendly loss in Chengdu on Tuesday, which came days after the team was held 1-1 by Malaysia also at home.
President Xi Jinping wants China to one day host and even win the Fifa World Cup, but they are ranked 80th in the world and confidence is rock-bottom ahead of World Cup qualifying.
Thaer Krouma scored the second-half winner for Syria, who are 94th in the Fifa rankings, in front of just over 12,000 spectators at a 60,000-capacity stadium.
