SYDNEY, June 22 (Reuters) - China ended their failed World Cup qualifying campaign on a high with a 1-0 victory over a below-strength Australia on Sunday.

Defender Sun Xiang scored a superb goal in the 12th minute

to provide the Chinese with their first win in Group A and hand

the Australians their first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier

for 27 years.

The result had no bearing on the qualifying as Australia,

fielding a mostly second-string team, had already secured their

place in the next stage while China were out of contention.

Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek opted to rest most of

his European-based players and give some of the country's

younger players the chance to push their claims for selection

when the final stage of qualifying starts in September.

'It's disappointing to lose at home and we're not happy

about it,' Australia captain Harry Kewell told reporters.

'(The next phase) is going to be tough but we're prepared

for that.

'I'm pretty sure we'll have a strong squad out there and

things will be different.'

The Australians dominated possession throughout the match

but failed to capitalise on their chances after going behind

early in front of more than 70,000 spectators at Sydney's

Olympic stadium.

'If there were no fans in the stand I literally would be

very happy with this game,' Verbeek said.

'But we have 70,000 people in the stands and they want to

see more chances, they want us to score goals. They want to see

at least a result and that is what we didn't show.'

Sun broke the deadlock when he gathered a headed clearance

from Australian defender Ruben Zadkovich on the outside of the

box and fired the volley past the outstretched arms of

goalkeeper Michael Petkovic into the top right corner of the

net.

China were unlucky not to go 2-0 up in the 77th minute when

Zadkovich fouled Gao Lin inside the box and Zhi Zheng converted

the penalty.

But Saudi Arabia referee Khalil Al Ghamdi ordered the spot

kick be re-taken because of encroachment and the Charlton

Athletic midfielder missed the target with his second attempt.

'This victory is not very important to us because already

lost in qualification for the World Cup,' China's Serbian coach

Vladomir Petrovic said.