China striker Yu Dabao (R) plays for Chinese club Beijing Guoan against Brisbane Roar's Jack Hingert during an Asian Champions League match. (Photo : Getty Images)
Group C competitions of the AFC 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers continue as China (2-1-1, 7 points) and Bhutan (0-5-0, 0 points) square off at the Helong Stadium in Changsha on Thursday, November 12.
Team Dragon lost a tough 0-1 decision to the group leaders on October 8 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha as Qatari defender Karim Boudiaf scored the winner in the first half of play, as per Gulf Times.
With the loss, the Chinese to third place in their bracket behind eight points behind undefeated Qatar and three points behind second placer Hong Kong, who has one more game played than China.
Meanwhile, lowly Bhutan is still winless after five games in the tourney.
Their last match was the closest score they had, a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu on October 13, via Fox Sports Asia.
Hong Kong striker Chan Siu Ki provided the lone goal of the match to keep Pema Dorji's men still seeking for their first win in the qualifiers.
A win by Alain Perrin's squad in this game will tie them with Hong Kong at 10 points apiece, which makes their encounter on November 17 at the Mong Kok Stadium a must-win for both sides.
The predicted result is a 5-0 blowout for China.
China starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Wang D.; Ren H., Mei F., Zhang L., Ji X.; Cai H., Zheng Z., Wu X.; Zhang C., Zheng L.; Yu D.
Bhutan starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): H. Gurung; M. Gurung, J. Dorji, K. Gurung, D. Gyeltshen; Tshering, C. Dorji, T. Dorji, Basnet; C. Gyeltshen, Subba
