The Chinese Olympic soccer team defeated Botswana's under-23 side
2-0 on the opening day of the Shenyang four-nation invitational
tournament.
Ratomir Dujkovic's team, which crashed to a 4-0 defeat to the
African side with a 4-0 whitewash during their overseas training
tour last month, got their own back by dominating the game.
Many first-half opportunities went begging but with six minutes
to go before the break, midfielder Shen Longyuan passed to Zhao
Xuri whose powerful drive from 30 meters out was pushed out for a
corner by Botswana keeper Itumeleng Selapa.
Chen Tao unleashed the corner which was cleared by a Botswana
defender. However, the clearance fell to Shen who buried it at a
tight angle to give China the lead.
The Shanghai Shenhua player demonstrated a particular
celebration technique by running to the touch line and hugging ever
Chinese coach and official on the bench.
The hosts' second goal was long in coming and with 15 minutes
left, China forward Jiang Ning broke through on goal and headed
midfielder Zhou Haibin's free kick past Selapa into the net.
Without injured Manchester United striker Dong Fangzhuo, Jiang
led China's attacks and must have felt vindicated after having been
denied over and over again as the game unfolded.
(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2007)
