How it happened
Vakhdat Khanonov, a defender, scored the only goal of the game as Tajikistan won 1-0 at Longxing Football Stadium in Chongqing. He earned a match rating of 8, the highest of any player listed.
The match was goalless at half-time. Khanonov broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, and China's task became harder in the 59th when W. Shihao was sent off. China played the last half hour a player short and could not find an equaliser.
The game kicked off at 11:35 UTC on 6 October under cloudy skies, with the temperature at 21C.
The numbers
Tajikistan controlled the game on every main measure except corners, which were level at 3-3. They had 69% of the possession against China's 31%, and 10 shots to China's 4. Four of those shots were on target, against three for China.
The estimated expected-goals figures were 1.62 for Tajikistan and 0.19 for China. The winners' single goal came from a total that suggests they might have scored more.
Khanonov had 94 touches. Tabrez Islomov, also a defender, had a match rating of 7.8 and one key pass. Midfielder Parvizdzhon Umarbaev, rated 7.2, led the side with three key passes and 115 touches.
For China, goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo made three saves and had a match rating of 6.8, which kept the margin to one goal.
What it means
Tajikistan, 48th in the table as supplied, now have a sequence of LLDWW, and their last two matches have both been wins. Over their last 10 matches they have won five, drawn two and lost three, scoring 16 and conceding 14.
China, listed 36th, have a recent sequence of LLWDW. Across their last 10 matches they have won three, drawn two and lost five, with 8 goals scored and 15 conceded.
The two sides had met twice before: a 1-0 China win on 11 June 2019 and a goalless draw on 13 January 2024. Tajikistan had never won the fixture until this result.