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China make into second round
China advanced into the second round of the 2004 Asian Cup yesterday as it edged past Qatar 1-0 in the final match of Group A at the Beijing Workers' Stadium. Defender Xu Yunlong from Beijing Hyundai Club scored the winner in the 78th minute to give the host nation a comfortable 3 points in front of 62,000 enthusiastic fans.
China tops the group with 7 points from three games, two points ahead of Bahrain, who also booked a second round spot after beating Indonesia 3-1 in a match which took place at the same time in Ji'nan, Shandong Province. "I am happy that we are advancing into the next round. I am happy because we are on the right road," said China's head coach Arie Haan. China appeared nervous in the first half as team members made a number of mistakes in passing and organization, and failed to apply enough pressure on its opponent.
Fans made Mexican waves to show support and to motivate their team,but there were no good scoring chances for both teams in the first half. China was seemed to run out of patience as time started slipping away. Captain Li Weifeng received a yellow card because of a bust-up with a lineman. "It was the most difficult match of the three. They are our last opponents. So they have the most time to know us. Besides, my players were 5 to 10 per cent out of concentration in the dressing room. I think they are tired from their previous match," said Haan. The best chance was from Shao Jiayi, who scored two goals in China's 5-0 demolition of Indonesia in the second game as his 28th-minute free kick shaved the post. Fans had to wait until 78th minute when Xu Yunlong, substitute for Wei Xin, made a gallant dive to head a pass from Li Weifeng into the net. It proved to be a morale-boosting goal, and China started to control the game with roaring support from delirious fans. Substitute Sun Jihai, who plays for English premier league club Manchester City, could have made it 2-0 four minutes from time, heading a Li Ming pass against the bar. "They were so many fans tonight. I think they have seen what they want to see. "Although we are a little tired. after all, I think after all three matches, China deserves the victory," said Haan. Haan refused to predict who is China's next opponent in the second round but expressed his ambition. "We are happy to play in Beijing in the next match. The most important thing is that China is playing well. "I don't know who is our opponent. China is a good team, and we are supposed to beat any team. But we need some luck," said Haan. Velappan gives credit General secretary of AFC (Asian Football Confederation) showed up at the after-match press conference yesterday and singled out Chinese fans and China for credit. "I am as happy as you are. All the AFC members, including the president. are happy that the Asian Cup has become a festival in China." "The president (Bohamed Bin Hammam) visited the other three cities and they are showing exactly what we saw this evening," said Velappan. "I am grateful to Beijing fans. You are wonderful and you are bringing confidence and motivation to China's team." He asked the fans nationwide to keep up their support and help make the Asian Cup a big success in China. He also praised the level of play at this Asian Cup. "Every game up to now has provided very high-quality football. All have been entertaining, and even in the last part of play, every game is entertaining as so many goals are scored in the last five minutes." Velappan said the difference between the 16 countries is not as big as before as countries like Bahrain, Oman and Jordan have improved considerably. "Bahrain has proved that tonight after they beat Indonesia and advanced into the second round," Velappan said. |
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