On the 14th two matches on the final day of the East Asian Football Championships 2010 Finals Competition were held with tied leaders China PR playing 4th placed Hong Kong-China. 2 goals from FW QU Bo saw them win 2-0. Competing with China PR’s record of 2 wins, 1 draw was fellow leaders Japan who played Korea Rep. and lost. That result means China PR claim their first championship title since winning the 2005 finals competition.

The revitalized China PR team, who drew with hosts Japan in their first match and beat reigning champs Korea Rep. for the first time ever in their second match, took the title from two teams who have qualified for the FIFA World Cup. In their final match versus Hong Kong-China ZHAO Xuri, normally a big presence in mid-field, was barred from playing due to a suspension. They created a rhythm in attack by holding on to the ball well and playing short passes. CHAN Wai Ho was also not playing but East Asian Football Championships 2010 Semi-finals Competition MVP DF Gerard AMBASSA GUY was back in the starting line up. He managed to stop the opposition forwards in one-on-one situations many times as Hong Kong-China shut out their opponents in front of goal whilst launching counter attacks down the left wing through MF KWOK Kin Pong.

China PR did make progress through QU Bo’s dribbling attacks but couldn’t make this count due to Hong Kong-China’s numbers cutting out any space. In the 18th minute MF YU Hai played a long ball to FW GAO Lin who beat his marker and had a good shot but 19 year old GK YAPP Hung Fai blocked it and was in goal because as Hong Kong-China head coach KIM Pan Gon said “He played well versus Japan so we used him against China PR too”. In the 40th minute MF YANG Hao intercepted the ball in mid-field which started an attack down the right for QU Bo and he fed YANG Hao for a right footed shot in a one-on-one situation with the GK. However that shot was once again saved by YAPP Hung Fai. Time without an opening goal ticked by until the 44th minute when MF DENG Zhuoxiang took a left sided FK which rebounded to an unmarked MF LIU Jianye who chipped it over 2 defenders. An unmarked QU Bo took it well with his right foot on the right side and slotted his shot into the top left corner of the goal.

Hong Kong-China conceded a painful goal just before halftime but were rewarded with an excellent chance immediately after the restart. A right sided cross was misjudged by a China PR DF and went to MF KWOK Kin Pong who was waiting at the far post. His first time shot was on target but in the end stopped by China PR GK YANG Zhi, who was selected as the Golden Glove of the tournament. Then in the 58th minute DF LEE Wai Lun’s right wing cross was met by Hong Kong-China DF WONG Chin Hung at the near post but his shot was off target.

The second half continued with the score unsettled at 1-0. However in the 70th minute China PR’s substitution strategy paid off when JIANG Ning, who had replaced GAO Lin up front, got the game going. In the 74th minute DENG Zhuoxiang played a through ball from the left touch line which JIANG Ning reacted well too. He got to the ball at speed and continued dribbling in to the penalty area where he was fouled by a Hong Kong-China defender and earned a penalty. QU Bo stepped up and converted it with his right foot in to the left side of the goal to make it 2-0. They couldn’t add another afgter that and the match ended in a 2-0 victory for China PR. Japan lost the second match which meant China PR were awarded the championship title.

They conceded no goals in all 3 matches to stand as the best in East Asia. With an excellent defensive record and back line the tournament MVP went to DF DU Wei who said “It (Hong Kong-China match) was a high pressure game but we were able to win. I am glad we won the title. It gives us confidence.” Having been knocked out of the Beijing Olympics in the group stage, and their FIFA World Cup run finishing att he Asian Qualifying 3rd Round stage the last few years’ results haven’t been good for China PR. However Head Coach from May 2009, GAO Hongbo has revitalized China PR by including young members of the Olympics squad to beat their East Asian rivals. “This will surely have a big impact on the whole of Chinese football” said the leader celebrating this important win.