Indian referee Melvyn D'Souza officiated the match, which was described by commentators at the time as being played in an unusually intense (for an Asian World Cup qualifier) manner.

They entered the final match tied on points; however, China held the advantage in goal differential due to larger margins of victory over the group's other two teams, Brunei and Macau.

Under the glare of the floodlights and the noise of 80,000 fans at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing, the Chinese team began the game on the offensive, determined to achieve a win rather than a draw and finally qualify in dominant fashion.

During a free kick, Wu Kwok Hung backheeled the ball stealthily behind him to defender Cheung Chi Tak, who from well outside the penalty box blasted a thunderous shot past Chinese goalkeeper Lu Jianren into the upper corner, making the score 1–0 in favor of the visitors.

Undeterred, China increased pressure and equalized twelve minutes later, when Li Hui scored from a rebound after Hong Kong's keeper Chan Wan Ngok could not secure an initial shot.