Australia Defeats China 3-1 in Qualifier

Australia's Socceroos achieved a crucial 3-1 victory over China in their Asian Football Confederation World Cup qualifier in Adelaide, marking the first win under new coach Tony Popovic. After a disappointing start to their campaign, which included a loss to Bahrain and a draw with Indonesia, the Socceroos came from behind after China scored first. Goals from Lewis Miller, Craig Goodwin, and debutant Nishan Velupillay secured the comeback in front of a record crowd of 46,291. This win is vital for Australia's aspirations to qualify for their sixth consecutive World Cup, while China now faces intense scrutiny after suffering their third straight defeat, leaving them at the bottom of Group C. The match not only highlights Australia's resurgence but also raises concerns for China's coach Branko Ivankovic amidst a series of poor results. The Socceroos now prepare for a challenging away match against Japan next week.