Thanks to a disputed penalty in closing minutes, China's Olympic
football team held the visitors US to a 3-3 tie by a fluke on
Sunday at their second friendly match in three days.
Captain Li Weifeng
(L) celebrates Du Zhenyu, who scored twice for China in a friendly
game against the US Olympic football team on Sunday, December 16,
2007. [Photo: Xinhua]
The two sides had their first clash on Friday in Changsha, but
saw a goalless draw after both teams squandered several
opportunities.
Chinese head coach Ratomir Dujkovic predicted before the match
that the Americans would pose real threat after throwing off
fatigue they showed in the first game, and that came true.
The US side took an early command in the 13th minute with a
fierce shot in the box and widened the margin to 3-0 by the half
time.
China's offensive tuned for the better until the second period
after the rivals made great changes in the lineup.
Zhu Ting headed home a Yu Lin's cross in the 51st minute to help
the home side to get closer. Du Zhenyu, the Player of 2007 in the
Chinese Super League, made it 3-2 12 minutes later, beating the US
keeper after taking the ball past defenders with his heel.
China's equalizer came just two minutes ahead of the final
whistle with a penalty converted by Du Zhenyu.
(CRI December 17, 2007)
