AFC Asian Cup: China’s Marcello Lippi unhappy as they scrape opening group win against Kyrgyzstan
- China struggle to opening group victory
- Horrendous goalkeeping error gifted Lippi’s side the equaliser
Kyrgyzstan goalkeeper Pavel Matiash pushed the ball into his own net five minutes into the second half to cancel out Akhlidin Israilov’s first-half opener before Yu secured the points for China with a calm finish 12 minutes from time.
With South Korea winning 1-0 against a defiant Philippines, who like Kyrgyzstan are tournament debutants, with a goal by Hwang Ui-jo, the east Asian nations are the group C pacesetters but Lippi was not happy with China’s performance.
“I’ve been in China for two years now and it’s not the first time (we’ve been) in this situation,” Lippi said of his side’s disjointed display in the opening period.
“There were a few times when the team couldn’t play well in the first half and then, after I got angry and I pushed my players, I got the reaction I wanted from the first minute.
“Maybe it’s the characteristics of the players from China.”