Tajikistan’s loss to Palestine looks harsher than the contest was before the red card. China met the same opponent in Chongqing and gave up openings through several different routes. That contrast, along with Tajikistan’s preparation in the city, makes this a closer matchup than the home setting suggests.
Tajikistan led Palestine twice. Its first goal was a penalty, and it conceded the deciding lead before the dismissal, so the red card does not explain the whole defeat. It does explain why the final score alone gives a poor picture of the later stretch.
China’s five-goal loss involved a pass behind its back line, a move that beat its press and a rebound after a save. China created some chances of its own, but Palestine reached the better shooting positions and put nine shots on target to China’s three. Tajikistan’s squad has stayed in Chongqing and trained there ahead of this meeting.
