China breaks 32-year jinx to trounce South Korea 3-0

TOKYO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- China ended an embarrassing 32-year-long head-to-head winless record after trouncing South Korea 3-0 at the East Asian Men's Soccer Championship here on Wednesday.

Today's match was played in the rain. China enjoyed an early lead only five minutes into the game. Winger Yu Hai, 23, who used to play in Dutch league, headed in Qu Bo's pass from the right flank.

China's Rong Hao(R) vies with a player of South Korea during their Men's East Asian  Championship soccer match in Tokyo February 10, 2010. China defeated South Korea 3-0. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

Yang Hao held up a mis-directed pass from the South Korean defender out side the box and pass the ball to Gao Lin, who beat keeper Lee Woon-Jae to extend China's lead to 2-0 in the 28th minute.

China could have enjoyed a 3-0 half time advantage but Gao lost the control of the ball in front of an open net five minutes before the interval.

Midfielder Deng Zhuoxiang sealed China's history-making win on 60 minutes. He dribbled past three defenders in a fast counter-attack and scored with a curved shot.

The South Korea side, without Man. United star Park Ji-Sung, missed the chance of a consolation goal six minutes later when Chinese defender Rong Hao kicked out the ball on the goal line.

It was the first victory in 32 years that China gained against South Korea in international matches. The long time jinx was often made into jokes by the Chinese fans to tease the scandal-plagued and ill-performed Chinese football.

Wei Di, the newly-appointed director of the Chinese Soccer Administrative Center, watched the live show of the match in Beijing. Speaking highly of the Chinese footballers' performance, Wei said," It is a wonderful gift for all the Chinese people ahead of their traditional Spring Festival."

Wei's predecessor Nan Yong was sacked last month amid probe into match-fixing scandals.

The East Asian Men's Soccer Championship features four teams - China, South Korea, Hong Kong and hosts Japan. China held a goalless tie with Japan on Feb. 6 and will meet their last opponents Hong Kong on Feb. 14.

China's Zhao Xuri(L) vies with a player of South Korea during  their Men's East Asian Championship soccer match in Tokyo  February 10, 2010. China defeated South Korea 3-0. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)