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(Sports Focus) China wins four-nation soccer tournament to gain confidence for Rio 2016

Xinhua, January 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

China beat South Korea 2-0 to claim the title of the four-nation women's soccer tournament here on Tuesday.

Strikers Ma Xiaoxu and Wang Shanshan scored in each half to lift the host to top place with two wins and one draw, boosting their confidence to seek the qualification for Rio Olympics.

"We always stick to our plan in the preparation period. Some players are rested in this match and some new combinations are fielded," said China head coach Bruno Bini from France.

Before the 2-0 victory over South Korea, China outclassed Vietnam 8-0. As the two teams are also opponents of China in the Olympic qualifications to be staged on Feb. 29, the successive wins proved valuable in tests and experiences.

"Besides, we conceded no goals in the whole tournament, which is also very important," added Bini, who has a glorious career by steering the French team to a fourth finish at the 2011 World Cup as well as the London Olympic Games.

Ma Xiaoxu, the AFC women's player of the year in 2006, broke the deadlock only 10 minutes into the game. The central forward in the 4-2-3-1 formation struck the rebounder to the net after a Korean defender cleared the ball with error to the far post.

China netted the second in the 77th minute. Wang Shuang made a fast overhead free-kick and Wang Shanshan met the pass to burst past two defenders, sending the ball to the far corner.

The tournament in Shenzhen is the last one for the Chinese team to play before the Olympic battle. They will set up a three-week training camp in France and then fly to Osaka for the six-team Olympic qualifications including the other three powerhouses of Japan, Australia and DPR Korea. The top two finishers will go to Rio Olympics.

"In the following three weeks, we will spend lots of time on the tactics. In modern football, the transition between attack and defence is very important. It is also the focus in our training," said Bini.

China, 17th place in FIFA rankings, reached its first quarterfinal of the World Cup in eight years in Canada last June, but was still reckoned underdog in Asia's qualifications for Rio 2016.

With about one month to go before the Olympic qualifications slated from Feb. 29 to March. 9, the Frenchman foresaw an uphill battle in vying for the two tickets on offer against World Cup runners-up Japan and world No. 9 Australia. Enditem