China brushed past Malaysia 3-1 in the second group stage of the
Doha Asian Games men's soccer tournament on Sunday.
Zhou Haibin, the goal scorer in China's first group match
against Iraq, broke the deadlock on 40 minutes with an open goal
after playmaker Zheng Zhi's free kick wriggled free from goalkeeper
Syed Adney's hands.
Forward Gao Lin then turned a powerful header home off strike
partner Zhu Ting's smart flicker at the far post in the 51st
minute.
China could have widened the margin, but Shen Longyuan
squandered two great chances when through an open goal.
The Malaysians pulled one back with a stunning 35-meter-free
kick from midfielder Mohamad Hardi on 65 minutes.
However, any chance of the Malaysians equalizing was killed when
Feng Xiaoting drove home right winger Chen Tao's smart back heel
pass inside the box, after Syed Adney tipped over Zheng Zhi's
curving goal-bound shot in the 64th minute.
China now have six points from two straight wins under their
belt and are in prime position for qualification, while Malaysia
had to bid farewell to the tournament after two losses.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2006)