China thrash Al Wahda in final Asian Cup warm-up

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China had gone off the boil lately with a run of just one win in seven matches but a final Asian Cup warm-up against United Arab Emirates (UAE) Pro League club Al Wahda offered a welcome respite for Marcello Lippi's side.

This was such a rare yet timely triumph as China emerged 5-3 winners in this closed-door friendly on Wednesday night after their 1-2 loss at the hands of the war-ravaged Iraq last Monday and a rather forgettable 1-1 draw four days later with fellow Asian Cup finalists Jordan.

China got off to a lively start with goals from Wu Lei and Zhang Linpeng in the opening minutes, but Al Wahda, who recently appointed former Shandong Luneng coach Henk ten Cate their new boss, pulled one back before the half-time whistle.

Chinese players attends a light-hearted training session as they prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup in Doha, December 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

Lippi made nine changes after the break but China were still totally in control and added further gloss to the scoreline when Yu Dabao came off the bench to put his name on the scoresheet. After restoring their two-goal cushion, China took their foot off the gas a bit and Al Wahda reacted by scoring twice in quick succession to make it 3-3.

It was a stunning attacking performance from both sides and the pace didn't ease up thereafter. But the Abu Dhabi side collapsed in the final stages of this thrilling encounter as Wei Shihao put China 4-3 ahead before Yu Dabao completed the thrashing.

China will hope for similarly morale-boosting victories at the upcoming Asian Cup in the UAE as they open their Group C campaign against Kyrgyzstan before matches against the Philippines and S. Korea.