China
National team overcomes decades of ROK hoodoo
By Yan Jie and Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-11 06:58
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The national soccer team yesterday won its first match against South Korean players in an international game in the last 32 years, giving a much-needed boost to a Chinese soccer scene mired in match-fixing and illegal betting scandals.
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 China's Yu Hai (L) celebrates with team-mates Yang Hao and Zhang Linpeng (R) after scoring a goal against South Korea during their East Asian Championship soccer match in Tokyo February 10 , 2010. China ended an embarrassing 32-year-long head-to-head winless record after trouncing South Korea 3-0 at the East Asian Men's Soccer Championship here on Wednesday. [Agencies] Click for more photos |
China beat South Korea 3-0 in the East Asian Men's Soccer Championship held in Tokyo, after scoring two goals in the first half and a third one in the second half to bag the biggest margin in all matches between the long-time soccer rivals since 1978.
The victory was a relief for head coach Gao Hongbo, who has been under great pressure amid rumors about his involvement in match-fixing and gambling in the domestic soccer league.
"We had a good return after a period of hard work and preparation," said Gao, adding that luck had a part to play in the Chinese team's win.
But the coach played down the breakthrough match, saying China's soccer still has a long way to go.
The Chinese national soccer team has lost 16 times to its South Korean competitor in 27 matches, by margins of up to two goals.
Still, Wei Di, the newly appointed chief of the sport's governing body, spoke highly of the Chinese players' performance.
"We did a great job today," said Wei, director of the Football Administrative Center.
"We broke the jinx and it's a gift for the soccer fans for the Chinese New Year."
Wei said it was the best result at the right time as Chinese soccer is undergoing a difficult period.
"The sport currently has many problems and it was not an easy game for the players and coaches," he said.
The stunning victory came at a critical time, after two of China's high-ranking officials in charge of the sport, including Wei's predecessor Nan Yong, were removed from their posts amid probes into match-fixing scandals.
The police have also detained more than 20 soccer players, club coaches and managers in the high-profile crackdown.
State broadcaster CCTV also did not broadcast any of the matches live.
The East Asian Men's Soccer Championship features four teams - China, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. China held a 0-0 tie with Japan on Feb 6 and will meet their last opponents Hong Kong on Feb 14.
