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Bruno Bini savors winning start as coach of China

Xinhua, October 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Frenchman Bruno Bini made a dream start as the head coach of the Chinese team when the host beat the World Cup semi-finalist England 2-1 at an international women's soccer tournament here on Friday.

Wang Shuang's brace after 44 minutes paved the way for the host's victory. It also gifted a dream start in the new post for Bini, who replaced Hao Wei last month to become the 15th head coach of the Chinese women's side and third foreigner for that job.

It is the Lionesses' first tournament since finishing third in the Canada World Cup this summer. The world No.5 team is 10 places higher than China in the FIFA ranking but clearly was not in their best shape with several regulars rested.

The unexpected starter Wang broke the deadlock just five minutes into the game. She met a right-wing cross from Han Peng in the area and beat Karen Bardsley of Manchester City with a low shot.

Wang, the versatile substitute at Canada World Cup, proved her sharpness in front of goal again one minute before the break. The right winger Han this time delivered an penetrating pass to sent Wang clear in the area, where the striker from Wuhan coolly struck the ball to the right corner.

England narrowed the gap seconds before half-time. Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko muscled out right defender Liu Shanshan in the area and hit a powerful shot against the far post while the rebounder rounded to the net.

Before that, Aluko also missed a golden chance in the 10th minute when she failed to score in a one-on-one chance against Chinese goalkeeper Wang Fei.

Bini, who has steered the French women's team to a fourth finish at the 2011 World Cup as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games, will lead his side to face Australia two days later. And that match is regarded as a good chance to test his new strategy and combinations for the Olympic task.

China reached its first quarterfinal of the World Cup in eight years in Canada but was still reckoned underdog in Asia's qualifications for Rio 2016.

With less than one year to go before the Rio Olympics and the Asian qualifications to start in February, the Frenchman foresaw an uphill battle for China in vying for the two tickets on offer against World Cup runners-up Japan and world No. 9 Australia.

And in Yong Chuan, Chongqing, Bini and his side could find some clues about their chances to Rio. Endi