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10:47, 10-Dec-2017
China ties South Korea 2-2 in East Asian Football Championship
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China drew with South Korea 2-2 in the opening men's game at the 2017 East Asian Football Championship on Saturday.
Marcelo Lippi included six players younger than 23 in the starting lineup. Wei Shihao from Shanghai SIPG lifted China to a 1-0 lead with a volley only eight minutes into the game, but Kim Shin-wook from South Korea tied the score three minutes later.
South Korea almost dominated the rest of the first half and Lee Jae-sung scored their second in the 19th minute.
Both sides played fiercely in the second half, and a header from Yu Dabao in the 76th minute helped China even the score to 2-2.
Yu Dabao helps China even the score 2-2 against South Korea. /VCG Photo
Yu Dabao helps China even the score 2-2 against South Korea. /VCG Photo
Chinese team coach Lippi pointed out that the Chinese players did better in the second half: "We strengthened our defense in the second half by changing our formation to 3-5-2 and making a few substitutions. The six under-23 players did well during the game. They will be part of the team for next year's AFC Asian Cup."
The 2017 East Asian Football Championship is running in Tokyo and Chiba from December 8-16. Four countries – China, Japan, South Korea and DPRK – are competing in the championship.