Iraq beats China 3-1, both enter Australia 2015 finals

China has survived an almighty scare before scraping into next year's Asian Cup.

China has survived an almighty scare before scraping into next year's Asian Cup. It was beaten 3 to 1 by Iraq in their last and crucial Group C match, but entered the finals on goal difference.

Iraq led China two to zero at half-time as forward Younis Mahmoud opened scoring on 23 minutes with a solo run, and tipped in a rebound in the 42nd minute. Ali Adnan enlarged the lead to three to zero on 59 minutes.

Then China pulled a goal back through a 72-minute penalty from substitute midfielder Zhang Xizhe, surviving as the best-performing third-placed team among five groups.