Nine-man host China were beaten 2-0 by Belgium in front of densely packed home fans in a Olympic soccer match in shenyang, Liaoning Province, on Sunday.

Belgium opened the scoring at the 8th minute, when forward Moussa Dembele broke away Chinese defenders, dribbled the ball into the box, and fired a powerful left-footed shot home.

Forward Kevin Mirallas extended Begium's lead in the 80th minute by calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

China replenished gunpowder after lagging one goal behind. Their best moment came three minutes before break, when forward Gao Lin had a chance to face the goalkeeper one-on-one. But the opportunity was denied by Belgian defenders as Gao chose to pass the ball to a teammate running towards the front of the goal, rather than strike himself from the left.

China started fiercely at the second half. In the 53rd minute, defender Tan Wangsong was red-carded for kicking in the lower abdomen of Belgian defender Sebastien Pocognoli, who rolled on the pitch in agony.

The host team suffered another sting as Zheng Zhi, a midfield mainstay of Chalton Athletic, handed his captain armband to veteran defender Li Weifeng in the 64th minute after elbowing a Belgian player.

China had not won any matches in their only World Cup appearance in 2002 and previous Olympics experience in the 1988 Seoul Games, where they conceded a total of five goals.

The host country will take on medal favorites Brazil and the "Little Devils" will meet underdog New Zealand in their last group matches.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)