Asian Cup 2015: China defeat DPR Korea in a game to give Socceroos plenty to think about
CHINA saw off DPR Korea in an entertaining game in Canberra that will give the Socceroos plenty to think about before their quarter-final.
CHINA are capable of being just as entertaining as the Socceroos at this Asian Cup.
Alain Perrin’s side were super slick in the opening 45 minutes before labouring to a 2-1 Group B win over DPR Korea at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
It also demonstrated glaring defensive deficiencies but still managed to issue Australia a warning before the nations clash in the quarter-final at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou wisely dispatched the nation’s best scouts to Canberra as China toyed with their opponents with a brand of quick entertaining and attacking football in the first half.
It was China’s third consecutive win at the Asian Cup after seeing off Uzbekistan (2-1) and Saudi Arabia (1-0) but DPR Korea had enough chances to steal a point.
DPR Korea’s substitute So Hyon-uk rattling the crossbar with a thunderous 82nd-minute 25m volley before keeper Wang Dalei’s brilliant save deep in stoppage time was evidence China was made to suffer.
But Sun Ke kicked off the Chinese party in front of a sea of red draped fans when he scored when the clash was just 45 seconds old.
He scored his second goal before half-time.
An own goal gave DPR Korea hope of recovering the deficit when Jong Il-gwan’s shot after a neat turn crashed into the back of the net off the body of China’s Gao Lin.
But Canberra Stadium has been lucky in a sense that it has witnessed the two fastest goals of the Asian Cup.
United Arab Emirates’ Ali Mabkhout claimed the tournament’s fastest goal record when he scored after 14 seconds in a clash against Bahrain last week.
Ke’s opener came when DPR Koreas’ defence appeared shell shocked after a brilliant delivery from Jiang Zhipeng which met the boot of the classy forward before he tucked the ball home from 7m
Ke scored his third goal of this Asian Cup and China’s second of the evening when Korea’s nervous defence parted for a cross from Jiang Zhipeng before the Jiangsu Sainty forward nodded the ball home in the 43rd minute.
Ke then ended his shift in the 71st minute after a head injury seemingly forced him off the park.
But a minute after Ke scored his brace controversy reigned.
The Asian Cup not investing in goal-line technology or extra assistant referees potentially robbed China of one of the classiest goals of the tournament.
Yu Hai’s delightful chip which was cleared by Korea’s defender Jon Kwang-ik in the 42nd minute may have crossed the goal-line.
Camera angles were inclusive.
But despite DPR Korea having a mostly torrid first half when their only real chance was skied over the bar by Il-gwan, with the forward also testing Dalei with a wicked 20m effort, which was beaten away to safety three minutes after the break.
Asian Cup Group B
CHINA 2 (Sun Ke 1m, 43m) DPR KOREA 1 (TOG 56m) at Canberra Stadium — Referee: Abdulrahman Hussain (Qatar)
Crowd: 18,457.