WUHAN, Hubei - A late penalty kick from Gao Lin kept alive China's slim hope of qualifying for next year's World Cup as Marcello Lippi's side beat Uzbekistan 1-0 at home on Thursday.

"I always tell my players that when there is still a theoretical chance we have no reason to give up," said Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup championship in 2006.

"We should make every effort to achieve it. Now we need the same attitude in the last match (away against Qatar)."