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| China's Zheng Zhi (L) challenges
Hong Kong's Chu Siu Kei during their World Cup qualification match in
Guangzhou, November 17, 2004. [Agencies] |
Disconsolate China coach Arie Haan stepped down
after his team suffered an embarrassing early exit from World Cup qualifying despite
thrashing Hong Kong 7-0.
Haan, whose contract was terminated following the abrupt end to China's
qualifying efforts, bid an emotional adieu to his players after they came
agonisingly close to rescuing a stuttering campaign.
"I'm empty inside," Haan said afterwards. "I feel sad for the players
and for everybody who was involved in the game. You can't come closer than
this."
The seven-star showing enthralled 35,000 fans at the Tianhe Stadium
but was not enough to overhaul the superior goal difference of group
leaders Kuwait, who beat Malaysia 6-1.
Kuwait's victory left them with an identical goal difference to China
of plus 13. But the Gulf side advanced to the final round of qualifying by
virtue of having scored one goal more, 15 to China's 14.
China will rue a
second-half penalty miss by Zheng Zhi, tipped around the post by Hong
Kong's livewire 'keeper Fan Chun-yip, which could have taken them to the
final qualifying round.
 "What can you say about the game," said Haan, a member of the
famous 'Total Football'
Netherlands teams of the 1970s. "We had enough scoring chances for almost
three games but it makes it even more sad because we only scored one less
than Kuwait.
"After a game like this there's not so much to say because it's over.
Everybody tried their best and seven goals is a lot, but it wasn't enough
today."
China had always looked a long shot to overhaul Kuwait, who were facing
bottom-placed Malaysia at home, but a rush of goals either side of
half-time sent hopes soaring.
After Li Jinyu's early strike, 1860 Munich striker Shao Jinyu chipped
in with two in three minutes just before the break. Li bundled over his
second just after the restart and Xu Yunhong volleyed home China's fifth
minutes later.
 China then recovered from Zheng's missed penalty -- given for Luk
Koon-pong's handball in the box -- as Li Weifeng and substitutes Yu Genwei
added two more goals in the dying minutes.
The late flurry completed an evening of total dominance for China, who
started brightly with veteran striker Hao Haidong and Wei Xin going close
early on. Li opened the scoring in the eighth minute, capitalising on a
defensive error from Hong Kong captain Lee Wai-Man to burst into the box
and lash a fierce left-footed shot into the top right-hand corner.
Li found the side-netting and Hao came close on a number of occasions
including one shot which was deflected on to the bar as China camped out
in Hong Kong's half.
However China's efforts were not
enough and at the final whistle, a disbelieving crowd and team trudged from
the stadium after hearing the news from Kuwait.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2004-11-18 08:52