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China survive virus quarantine to rout Thailand at Olympic qualifier

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Yao Lingwei (R) of China competes during the final round match between China and Thailand at the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Southwest of Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Jingchen)

China overcame a build-up full of obstacles in the most impressive way possible, registering a comprehensive 6-1 win over Thailand in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Campbelltown Stadium on Friday.

It may have been a belated start to their bid to reach Tokyo 2020, but the Steel Roses wasted no time in stamping their authority on Group B, as the seven-time Asian champions piled on four first-half goals to put themselves out of sight early in the contest.

Li Ying and Tang Jiali scored two goals apiece, with Zhang Xin and Wang Shanshan also getting on the scoresheet as China took a significant step towards next month's final play-off round, while Thailand are on the brink of elimination after successive defeats.

Confined to their hotel for several days in the lead-up to the game, China looked anything but a side whose preparation had been hampered, taking the lead within six minutes when 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup top scorer Li thumped in a superb 25-yard opener after being supplied by Wang.

Jia Xiuquan's side doubled their advantage five minutes later, with Zhang's attempted cross floating beyond goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao and into the net, and the Wang-Li combination bore fruit once again the 41st minute, with Wang heading home from six yards to make it three.

Already beaten by Chinese Taipei on Monday, Thailand were now on the ropes, and China looked to have a delivered a knockout blow in the final minute of the first half, with Tang scoring a screamer reminiscent of Li's strike 40 minutes prior.

Desperate to change his side's fortunes, Thailand coach Naruephon Kaenson introduced stalwart Kanjana Sung-Ngoen for her first minutes of the tournament at the start of the second half, but the Chinese goals continued to fly in, with Tang scoring another beauty after being supplied by Wang in the 51st minute.

China were too well drilled and simply too strong, on and off the ball, for the Chaba Kaew, and their superiority was further underlined when Li floated a wonderful header beyond Sornpao to bring up the half-dozen with 24 minutes still remaining.

Both sides had been FIFA Women's World Cup participants in 2019, but they were worlds apart this time around, and while Thailand did pull a late goal back through Silawan Intamee's close-range header, the final result was a fair reflection of the gulf between the sides.

China could potentially seal their passage through to next month's play-off when they meet Chinese Taipei on Monday, while Thailand face another daunting challenge against group hosts Australia.