Two first-half goals from striker Yusef Ahmed sent Qatar on their way to a 2-0 win over China as the host nation finally joined their own Asian Cup party on Wednesday and began dreaming of a place in the quarter-finals.
China captain Zheng Zhi was handed a four-match suspension by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) on Friday following his failure to lead his Guangzhou Evergrande team mates into a post-match handshake with match officials last weekend.
China's hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals hang by the thinnest of threads after an injury time goal from Ahmed Al Saleh saw Syria hold Marcello Lippi's team to a 2-2 draw on Tuesday evening.