China vow Olympic fightback

FIFA - China's beaten footballers believe they have learned valuable lessons from the Asian Games despite their shattering quarter-final defeat and will bounce back at the Beijing Olympics.
China went out in a penalty shootout against defending champions Iran on Saturday even though they had led 2-1, played with 10 men after a 63rd-minute red card for Zhu Ting.

"It was a pity that we stopped our journey here," said Feng Xiaoting who scored one his team's goals in the game which finished 2-2 at the end of extra time.

"We played better with every match. We still see a lot of hope for the Olympic Games as we will train better and improve. We played very well but we also made a lot of mistakes."

China skipper Zheng Zie, who could be heading to English Premiership club Charlton after impressing in a recent trial, believes his side can leave Doha with their heads held high.

"Everyone saw a good game," he said. "I'm proud that we played a good match. Although we lost, I think my team won the respect of the crowd."

Iran's Brazilian coach Rene Simoes, who took Jamaica to the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, believes China can be a force at the Olympics if they stick to their policy of keeping faith with the same group of young players.

"I can see how football in Asia is improving," said Simoes. "China are a very young team. They put up a very good display."

There was one sour note in the match caused by Arash Borhani opening goal when the Iranian stopped the ball on the line, invited his teammates to join and then tapped the ball into the goal.

"The first goal was not a good goal," admitted Simoes.

"He wanted to celebrate with the team, but it was bad because it is disrespect for the opposition. My players did not agree with what he did."

Bohrani, who plays his club football with Al Nasr in the UAE, defended the ploy.

"It was my wish from childhood to stop the ball before the goal line," he said.