BEIJING -- China scored 10 goals and
missed as many good chances against the Maldives as they romped
to a 10-1 win in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The Maldives' consolation goal came from one of only two
forays into the Chinese penalty area in a rain-swept encounter
in the ancient northwestern city of Xi'an.
China recalled three players from club duty in Europe for a
match that amounted to little more than target practice against
a team of amateurs.
The trio netted six goals between them in the Asian Zone
group nine qualifying tournament that also includes Cambodia and
Indonesia.
Xie Hui, who plays for German second division side Aachen,
grabbed a hat-trick and hit the bar twice.
Fan Zhiyi of English first division side Crystal Palace
slotted home two goals and Yang Chen of Germany's Eintracht
Frankfurt scored one.
It was China's first match of the qualifying campaign, but
in an utterly one-sided game played in slippery conditions it
was hard to gauge their true strength.
Chinese sports commentators made much of the fact that the
Maldives still managed to score a goal despite having only two
attacks.
There was also criticism because most of China's goals came
from high balls pumped into the area rather than careful
build-ups.
China play their second qualifier in the Maldives on April
25. But coach Bora Milutinovic had earlier suggested that Yang
and Fan may be allowed to return to their relegation-threatened
European clubs after Sunday's match.
"After the first group match, we will make a final decision
on whether to release the players," Milutinovic was quoted by
the official Xinhua news agency as saying.
"We will see if the release is in the interest of the
national team," he said.
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