Taipei's Municipal Stadium was playing a different tune yesterday when China lined up to do battle with Hong Kong in the second of the day's group C matches.
In an attempt to pour oil on cross-strait waters, the anthem of the People's Republic of China echoed through the stadium as the teams took to the pitch.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Just 1,500 people turned up for the occasion, including soccer fans, the press, officials, two dozen policemen and a phalanx of Falung Gong adherents -- who unfurled banners in the stands.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
After Tuesday's high scoring matches -- a total of 54 goals were scored in the competition's four opening group A games -- fans and local soccer pundits were looking forward to another goal bonanza.
On form, it appeared China, or "the Steel Roses" would prevail against Hong Kong.
Still building
After the game, China's Coach Ma Yuanan said his team was in the early building stages and preparing for the 2003 Women's World Cup in Shanghai.
But it did not look like it, as China took control from the start and sprayed telling passes across the park.
It was only a matter of time before Hong Kong's defensive frailties became apparent.
China's pressure paid off in the first 15 minutes when they scored three goals, one of which was a bending corner kick from winger Bai Lili that found its way unaided into the back of the net.
China's fourth come from the boot of Wen Lirong.
Hong Kong unraveled badly after this and in the 33rd minute China scored its second set-piece goal of the match.
Bad defending and invisible marking left Chinese forward Liu Ying ample opportunity to hit the roof of the net and claim the team's fifth.
Hong Kong spent the closing minutes of the first half relying on the offside trap to thwart China's attack.
Sometimes it worked.
Not often enough, however, to stop Bai Jie and Pu Wei from putting China into a commanding 7-0 lead, when the referee blew for halftime.
After the break China slowed down the pace of the game and Hong Kong was spared a greater thrashing.
Hong Kong barely got the ball past the halfway line, while China's Pu Wei, Li Ailing and Pan Lina practiced their shooting, adding three more goals from outside the penalty box.
Hong Kong did have one moment of glory in an otherwise one-sided match. In the 18th minute a soft foul by China was punished with a penalty.
With cheers of encouragement coming from every corner of the stadium, Po Chingying stepped up to the spot.
China's 'keeper, Zhao Yan simply parried, as Po blasted the spot-kick directly at her.
It was at this point that Hong Kong took drastic action, with the entire team (minus goalkeeper) often moving forward in a clumsy attempt to catch the probing Chinese forward line offside.
Despite the comedic aspect of the maneuver it was surprisingly effective.
Toward the end of the second half the game developed into a stalemate, with China constantly moving forward and Hong Kong occasionally rushing forward as a unit to catch China in the offside trap.
From the evidence of the games already played, China is the odds-on favorite, with its slick passing game and tactical superiority.
Uzbekistan 5, Philippines 0
Earlier in the day, group C action got off to a drab start with a moderately high scoring, but lackluster and snail paced 90 minutes of soccer as Uzbekistan beat the Philippines 5-0.
Taking the initiative, Uzbekistan took control of the game within the opening 15 minutes.
Leading by three goals to nil at halftime, the Central Asian nation continued to pile on the pressure throughout the second half.
The plucky ladies from the Philippines refused to bow under the constant pressure put on them by their stronger opponents and managed to keep the Uzbeks at bay. Even so, they conceded two more goals in the 74th and 77th minutes.
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