Hiddink's China Under-21s suffer nightmare start to Toulon Tournament

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China Under-21's got their Toulon Tournament campaign off to a disastrous start by going down 4-1 to the Republic of Ireland at Stade de Lattre in Aubagne, southern France on Monday.

The defeat leaves Guus Hiddink's under-strength team with a hugely difficult assignment to qualify for the knockout stages with Bahrain and Mexico to come in the next two games.

An abysmal first half left China trailing by two goals just five minutes into the opening tie. At that point, it seemed Ireland had the game in their grasp and needed only to see out the clock, but China pulled one back through Li Yang's powerful header before the interval.

The game moved on apace in the second half with the unmistakable sense China were architects of their own downfall. In a dramatic plot twist, Hiddink's side conceded two penalties for handball in quick succession and Ireland duly obliged from the spot to kill off any chance of a Chinese comeback.

Guus Hiddink's China task is growing increasingly sizable with four key first-team players unavailable in this Toulon Tournament. /VCG Photo

"The Irish are used to playing more physically. In the first 10 minutes, we are 2-0 down but we managed to react and reacted very well," observed Hiddink.

"At the end, the referee likes to whistle for the penalty. But that's ok, that is not a big problem. It is a very good lesson for us to play in this tournament."

China had four key players being called up by the senior side, but Hiddink refused to cite it as a factor in the loss.

"I don't complain but four players are upgraded to the national team. It is a pity that we don't have the full squad, but the youngsters are coming in and they have to take steps."