The South Korean men’s national football team returned home on Friday after a 1-0 upset to China during a World Cup qualifier in Hunan Province.
 
Striker Yu Dabao scored the winning goal in the 76th minute at the Helong Stadium on Thursday, giving China its second victory ever over South Korea.
 
South Korea has won 30 out of 32 matches with China so far. The other loss to China occurred during the East Asian Football Championship in February of 2010, where China humiliated South Korea with a 3-0 defeat, en route to winning the event.  
 
Thursday’s loss to China makes South Korea’s bid to advance to the World Cup finals for the ninth consecutive time less promising.
 
South Korea remains a runner-up in the six-team Group A with 10 points, while Iran is leading the group with 14 points. Uzbekistan, which lost to Syria 1-0 on Thursday, is trailing South Korea by a point.
 
Korea will face Syria next at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday.