Xie Hui scored on a header in the 44th minute as China won 1-0 at Maldives
on Saturday in an Asian World Cup qualifier at Male.
China (2-0), led by former U.S. coach U.S. coach Bora Milutinovic, is 2-0
for six points, but trails Group Nine leader Indonesia (2-0) by one in goal
difference. Indonesia plays Sunday at Cambodia, last at 0-2-1. Maldives is
1-3-1 with four points.
The group winner joins Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the
10-nation Asian finals, which will produce two qualifiers for the 2002
tournament in Japan and South Korea.
In an African second-round game at Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo beat
visiting Madagascar 2-0.
Madagascar defender Patrick Mami Soa accidentally deflected a shot by Ulrish
Minga into his own net in the 42nd minute and Minga scored in the 75th.
Tunisia (3-0-1) leads Ivory Coast (3-0-1) on goal difference in Group D,
with both at 10 points. Congo (2-3) has six, and Madagascar (1-4) and Republic
of Congo (1-3) have three each.
The group winner qualifies for the 32-nation World Cup field.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
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