Yu rescues China in opener

Team China got its Asian Cup campaign off to winning start with a nervy 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday.

The Kyrgyz led at halftime thanks to superb 42nd-minute long-range strike from Akhlidin Israilov. However, a howler from goalkeeper Pavel Matiash, who somehow failed to hold a high ball to direct the ball into his own net, gifted China an equalizer five minutes after the restart.

Substitute Yu Dabao, of Beijing Guo'an, then latched onto a Wu Xi header to round Matiash and fire home from a tight angle in the 78th minute to earn Marcello Lippi's side victory.