CHONGQING - The men's team of South Korea extended 22-year no defeat streak against China as they beat the host 3-2 at the third East Asian Football Championship (EAFC) on Sunday.
China defender Xu Yunlong fights for the ball during China's 3-2 home defeat to the South Korea. [Xinhua]As the defending champion of EAFC, the Chinese team is now in preparation of 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. In early February, they managed to snatch one point from Asian Champion Iraq in the first qualification match. However, Chinese playmaker and captain Zheng Zhi didn't return from Charlton of England Champions League for this tournament.
Though with the absence of many overseas experienced players, South Korean national team is aiming to take back its leading position in East Asian region by winning the third EAFC title with their coach Huh Jung Mao, who took the coaching job after the Dutch coach Pim Verbeek's resigh last year.
As the first EAFC winner, South Korea failed to be crowned for the second time in a row at home in 2005 with disappoiting results: two draws and one loss.
The South Koreans opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when 23-year-old forward Park Chu Young gave the lead for the visitors with a looping header inside the far post from a well-placed cross. The South Korean finished the first half 1-0.
With the strategy adjustment under chief coach Dujkovic and head coach Petrovic, Chinese players seemed to find the rhyme of match and fight back to gain the momentum early in the second half. Chinese leading midfielder Zhou Haibing equalized for the home with a superb long shot after the Korean defenders failed to clear the corner far away in the 47th.
Then thirteen minutes later, China's right midfield Wang Dong's free kick set up Liu Jian to hammer home the leading goal with a brilliant powerful header.
However, the joy of some 30,000 home fans only last for five minutes as South Korea showed their stamina and fighting spirit to equalize the score with a skillful direct free kick from Park Chu young. In the injury time, the South Koreans closed the scoring with a curve shot in the far corner due to sloppy defence of the host and held the 3-2 score to the whistle.
Since the 0-1 loss to South Korea at Bangkok Asian Games in 1978, Chinese football has never tasted the winning joy against the "Tiger of Asia" in a series of international events up to now. South Korea has achieved a proud record of 15 wins and 11 draws in the past 26 clashes.