 Mai Chao akapedza basa rake rose achitamba neGuangzhou FC semunhu anorwisa kuruboshwe-kumashure uye akaona timu ichikwira kuburikidza neChinese pyramid isati yafonerwa kuchikwata chenyika cheChinese kwaaizoita kutanga kwake kurwisa Italy mune hushamwari muna Chivabvu 11, 1986 mukukundwa ne2 0. Akava mutambi wenguva dzose muchikwata ichi uye akahwina chibodzwa chake chekutanga neIndonesia musi waAugust 25, 1986 mukukunda 30 asati adaidzwa kuBhora pa1986 Asian Games uyezve 1988 AFC Asian Cup. Zvinosuruvarisa kuti aive chikamu chechikwata icho chakarasikirwa nekusvika kuFIFA World Cup mushure mekurasikirwa nemutambo wekupedzisira weboka kuQatar mumaminetsi ekupedzisira panguva yekukodzera. Mai, zvisinei, aizopedza basa rake renyika yose semutambi wepamusoro-soro wenyika uye achionawo Guangzhou achienda kune unyanzvi hwakakwana asati apedza basa. 