China soccer team players walk off the field after losing to Qatar at the 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match in Doha, Qatar, October 8, 2015. Qatar won 1-0. [Photo/Agencies]

DOHA - China lost to hosts Qatar 1-0 at a 2018 World Cup Asian qualifier here on Thursday.

Midfielder Karim Boudiaf took the winner in the 22nd minute with a bullet header at the far post following a right-wing freekick was deflected a little by Ji Xiang.

The victory sends Qatar to the top of Group C with all the possible 12 points after 4 games, and the Gulf Cup champions now have the best chance to qualify from the group as leaders, while China now sits on the third place with 7 points. Chinese Hongkong is level on points with China, but has more goals to leapfrog the latter after this game.

Qatar was the better side in the first half, while the guests became the one to have the say after the break. The hosts took control in the first 45 minutes with more possession, better organization and aggressive defence to force their rivals to make many errors in the passes. Striker Boualem Khoukhi's deflected freekick could have broken the deadlock earlier, but his shot was denied by a reaction save from keeper Wang Dalei.