Substitute Y P Wang's goal gave China a 1-0 victory over Thailand in their last Group B league match and a berth in the quarter-finals of the AFC Youth Championship, at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata, on Friday.
In another match of the group, Australia defeated the United Arab Emirates 2-0 to also enter the last eight stage.
China topped Group B with nine points while Australia finished with six.
After being on the defensive for most part of the first half, Thailand took the game into Chinese territory, but a sudden goal by Wang in the 77th minute took both the initiative and the match away from them.
Wang, after a bout of short passing with his teammates, took a powerful long shot that curled into the goal, beating goalkeeper Bootprom.
Thailand was more aggressive in the second half and threatened the Chinese defence, but failed
In the other match of the group at Howrah stadium, striker William David scored both goals in Australia's victory.
