China hopes of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia were given a huge boost Tuesday night, as it beat Qatar 2-0 in a crucial Asian Group C qualifier.

Chinese players react during a game against Qatar in Xi’an on Tuesday, March 29, 2016.

After a goalless opening half, Huang Bowen and Wu Lei got on the scoresheet in the second period to give the hosts the win they desperately needed.

The eight group winners and the four best second-placed teams will advance to the next phase of the qualifying process for Asia. As one of the second-placed teams, China needed other results to go its way as well, and they did. Australia hammered Jordan 5-1, while the Philippines defeated the DPRK 3-2.

China will now move to the final qualifying round, barring a freak set of results later on Tuesday.