BRISBANE: China's plan of absorbing pressure and hitting on the break worked to perfection as they upset Saudi Arabia 1-0 at the Asian Cup on Saturday.
Midfielder Yu Hai struck in the 81st minute to break the stalemate and give China victory over the three-time champions in Brisbane.
A Group B game between two evenly matched sides appeared to be headed for a draw until Yu's free kick from 30 metres out took a wicked deflection and left Saudi keeper Waleed Abdullah stranded.
"Our tactics worked very well, we counter-attacked well and caused a lot of trouble for our opponents," China coach Alain Perrin told reporters. "The match was very, very difficult for us but we gained a lot of joy from it. We've been preparing for this tournament for a long time."
China dominated the first half, but Saudi Arabia improved after the interval and should have taken the lead in the 59th minute after Naif Hazazi was awarded a penalty, but his tame spot kick allowed goalkeeper Wang Dalei to save with his legs.
Saudi coach Cosmin Olaroiu insisted he had no regrets about Hazazi taking the spot kick.
"I asked him to take the penalty because he was the one who was fouled," he said. Wang, who was celebrating his 26th birthday Saturday, was later named man of the match for his heroics between the posts.
"Before the match I got a lot of courage from my coach," a beaming Wang said. "I remember in the past few days a journalist asked if I was ready for the match. I said wait until after January 10 and I will give you the answer."
- Lack of precision -
The Saudis paid for their lack of precision in front of goal, Salem Aldawsari and Mustafa Albassas squandering good early opportunities.
China gradually began to assert control in the opening period and found space out wide, Zhang Chengdong particularly dangerous down the right, and he was instrumental in several of China's best moves. They were were unlucky not to go into halftime leading, with Wu Xi twice failing to convert just before the break. Saudi Arabia, who won the last of their three Asian Cup titles in 1996, emerged with more purpose after the team talk and were by far the more threatening side.
Saeed Almuwallad went close after 56 minutes before Hazizi's glaring penalty miss, while Salem and Omar Howsawi went close.
But the Chinese, runners-up in 1984 and 2004, defended superbly and caught their opponents with a classic sucker punch, leaving the former champions with little time to mount a response.
"Even though we won the match we still have a lot of work to do," Perrin conceded. "The next step for us is preparing for the next match against Uzbekistan. We are moving forward step by step."
Olaroiu remained defiant.
"You're not out after the first game," he said. "I hope the players keep playing with the same determination and the same spirit. The next match is a different game. We have to win the next two games and we can do it."
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