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. [Xinhua]

Ahmad Al Salih's free kick deep into injury-time secured Syria a 2-2 draw against China on Tuesday that leaves the FIFA World Cup prospects of Marcello Lippi and his team hanging by a thread.

Mahmoud Al Mawas had given the Syrians the lead in the 12th minute when he converted from the spot after Fahd Youssef had been hauled down by Chinese goalkeeper Zeng Cheng.

Zhang Linpeng hit the crossbar with a header late in the first-half as China pushed for the equaliser before Gao Lin scored with a penalty of his own in the 68th minute after a foul on Zhang.

Wu Xi looked to have given the Chinese with win seven minutes later when he swept the ball home from close range but Al Salih's curling free kick salvaged a point for the Syrians and leave China with the slimmest of hopes of a place in Russia.

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