Asian Games: China’s 5-star display too much for India as hosts get football campaign off to a flyer
- Tao Qianlong scores twice, while Gao Tianyi, Dai Wai-tsun and Fang Hao also strike in 5-1 win
- Elsewhere, defending champions South Korea handed out a 9-0 thrashing to Kuwait
Tao Qianlong scored twice in the second half and China made the best possible start to their home Asian Games with a 5-1 hammering of India on Tuesday evening.
While Tao took the headlines it was Dai Wai-tsun who took the roars of the crowd, with his goal soon after the break putting the home side ahead for good.
Beijing Guoan midfielder Gao Tianyi had given the home side the lead after 17 minutes, only for India’s Rahul Kannoly Praveen to score against the run of play right on the stroke of half-time.
Tao struck twice to put the game beyond doubt, before Dai’s replacement, Fang Hao, scored a fifth deep into stoppage time at the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium.
China’s goalkeeper Han Jiaqi, who should have done better with the equaliser, said the victory was “nothing to be too excited about”.
“This is a result we were expected to get,” he said. “We don’t need to adjust our level of confidence. We just have to prepare according to our next opponent.”