A very individual line-up from the kick-off. When one player appeared to have taken the ball, it was as if they felt it was their sole responsibility to prove their own value, and provide something for the team. The end result was a static team with exception for the player closest to the ball.
An undermanned Chinese team were not to rest on their laurels, and played as a unit with a certain need to win. The halftime stats, shockingly;
Aus China Shots 1 5 Corners 4 7 Fouls 10 5
The usual guns showed their class (Foxe, Emerton), Bresciano was busy, ran a lot and into spaces and most of the time with the ball or the ball near by. An honest game. Kasey Wehrman was neither here nor there, Culina had one great opportunity early on, but his shot was just off target after good control and awareness in the box.
The biggest positive of this match was seeing Kosta Salapasidis in the starting 11 for a Raul Blanco team. A situation that had threatened to turn into a disaster for both had there been any other outcome. Kosta however was quiet, especially with no major service to him. To his credit, as the service argument is a long repeated excuse, Kosta got out and made some opportunities of his own. Beating his man, low cross, hitting Emerton on the big right toe, turn and shot turned away from close range.
Emerton hit the corssbar with a header about 5 mins to go, and Australia were piling on the pressure in the last 20 or so minutes, but China fully deserved their victory.
The next step for Raul Blanco and Les Scheinflug is to get the players minds on effective direct teamplay, and out with the overkill pretty stuff. Way too many times were players clearly open, and some dumb banana kick was overhit and possession eventually lost...