(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-18 19:14

SINGAPORE - China's Serbian national team coaches were given a hard time by local media on Monday after the team's 3-2 loss to South Korea in the East Asian Championships in Chongqing.

China defender Xu Yunlong fights for the ball during China's 3-2 home defeat to the South Korea. [Xinhua]

The defeat left China without a victory against South Korea in 30 years, a winless streak dubbed "Koreaphobia" by the local press, who pinned the blame on chief coach Ratomir Dujkovic and head coach Vladimir Petrovic.

The Beijing News said: "Dujkovic also can't cure it", suggesting China were as ineffective with Dujkovic on board as they were with only Petrovic in charge.

Titan Sports said the loss was not "Koreaphobia", merely an inability to win because of the coaches' different approaches, which could derail China's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Japan drew 1-1 with North Korea in the other match in the round-robin tournament.