Yu rescues China in opener

Team China got its Asian Cup campaign off to winning start with a nervy 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday.

The Kyrgyz led at halftime thanks to superb 42nd-minute long-range strike from Akhlidin Israilov. However, a howler from goalkeeper Pavel Matiash, who somehow failed to hold a high ball to direct the ball into his own net, gifted China an equalizer five minutes after the restart.

Substitute Yu Dabao, of Beijing Guo'an, then latched onto a Wu Xi header to round Matiash and fire home from a tight angle in the 78th minute to earn Marcello Lippi's side victory.

Match-winner Yu admitted it was a far-from-convincing start for China but added: "We were united as a team and managed to handle the huge pressure on us.

"I hope we can improve over the next two games and reach the last 16. We want use this victory to give back to the fans."

Lippi is set to leave his role as head coach when his contract expires later this month, and is hoping to atone for a disappointing two-year tenure with a deep run at the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

China's best result at the Asian Cup was as runner-up in 1984 and 2004 but since the latter campaign has failed to go beyond the quarterfinals.

Emerging from Group C, which also features South Korea and the Philippines, to reach the last 16 remains Lippi's priority for now. Making the quarterfinals or beyond would qualify as the "surprise" the Italian is hoping for.

"Our target is to do our best and achieve a good result. We know that in a competition like this there are favorites like Japan, Australia, Iran and South Korea, but there is always a surprise team too. I hope we can become the surprise of this tournament," said the 2006 World Cup winner, who won the Chinese Super League three times in a row with Guangzhou Evergrande from 2012 to 2014.

"I have worked in China for seven years, I know how much Chinese fans care about the national team, so I really want to give this big satisfaction to all the Chinese fans."

China's captain Zheng Zhi missed Monday's opener due to suspension but will be available again for Friday's clash against the 116th-ranked Philippines.

At 39, Zheng is the oldest player at the tournament and is typical of a squad overly reliant on veterans.

With an average age of 30.2 years, China's squad is the oldest at the Asian Cup, while just three wins in its 11 games in 2018 had dented confidence.

Monday's triumph was, therefore, a much-needed morale boost for China, which will be hopeful of sealing a place in the knockout stage with victory over the Philippines.

Securing any points from its final group game against South Korea next Wednesday in Abu Dhabi would be a huge upset.

The Koreans are fancied to go all the way by many pundits, with Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heungmin spearheading their challenge.

The Asian player of the year will depart for the UAE after Spurs' Premier League game against Manchester United on Jan 13.

Son's availability for the China game has yet to be confirmed, but he is determined to return to London with a winner's medal around his neck.

"The Asian Cup is big for us because we have not won it for 59 years," said the 26-year-old. "I'm going there not just to enjoy it, I am going there to win something."