Chinese soccer roars in 9-0 whitewash
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The scandal-hit Chinese soccer roared like a lion on Tuesday as Chinese Super League runners-up Changchun Yatai whitewashed Indonesian champions Persik Kediri 9-0 at home in the AFC Champions League Group F second round clash.
Furthermore, the 2009 Chinese Super League champions Beijing Guoan hammered Japanese J-League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 in Japan on the same day, breaking the jinx of no road win for Chinese clubs against Japanese sides in the AFC Champions League.
The unbelievable wins raised fans' hope for the revival of the Chinese soccer which had been going downward in recent years with the national team's poor performances in the Olympic Games, World Cup qualifications and AFC Asian Cup, and the match-fixing scandals in domestic leagues.
In Changchun today, Yatai's new star Gao Jian, who used to be a bench player, contributed a hattrick to the 9-0 win. He was so excited while scoring for the third time that he took a cap from a nearby ball boy and wore it for a moment to celebrate his hattrick.
"I feel so excited. No matter how many goals I have made, I am happy as long as Yatai wins," Gao said. "We must survive the group to win honor for China."
In the first round of the 2010 AFC Champions League Group F, Persik Kediri lost to South Korean K-League champions Chonbuk Hyundai Motors 4-1, while Changchun Yatai were upset by Japanese J-League champions Kashima Antlers 1-0 in Japan.
As Antlers beat Hyundai 2-1 in the second round today, Yatai rose to the second place in the group with the advantage in goal difference.
Group F is dubbed as "Group of Death" as it contains three top teams from three East Asian top leagues. Yatai had been crowned in the 2008 season of the Chinese Super League.
Yatai's head coach Shen Xiangfu said after the big win," The game was lopsided not only because of our advantage in strength, but also because of our players' fighting spirit. They are desperate for the win."
Jackson Tiago, coach of the Indonesians, said," The freezing coldness is truly disarraying our players. Actually, I did not expect such a goal difference."
Changchun Yatai will meet Chonbuk Hyundai Motors on March 24 at home, which will be a do-or-die duel for both.
