Asian powers unbeaten; European giants eliminated
( 2001-08-26 10:44 ) (1 )

Asian powers China, Japan and South Korea advanced into the men's soccer quarter-finals of the 21st University Games with unbeaten records on Saturday while European giants France and Italy crashed out of the top eight.

Lu Feng's header in the injury time helped China hold off a late surge of Mexico and collect a 4-3 victory in a final round Group A match.

With the score tied at 3-3 and less than one minute left in the game, Lu clashed with the Mexican goalkeeper Rodringuez Hugo in the air for the game-winner.

Lu bent over the ground for more than 30 seconds before getting up to hear the final whistle.

"I am satisfied with the result, but not with the match," said Chinese head coach Sun Chengyao at the press conference after the match. "I think my players loosened up in the second half and the defenders made several mistakes in the box."

The Chinese saw their 2-0 lead in the first half squandered after the break and the Mexicans came from behind to make it 3-all after the hosts rebuilt the lead through Yan Song.

China, who won the group with a maximum nine points, will play Czech Republic, second-placers from Group D, in Monday's quarter- finals.

In the other Group A match, Britain trounced late arrivals Nigeria 6-1, setting up a clash with East Asian Games champions Japan.

The Japanese, who beat Czech Republic 2-1 and Iran 3-1 in earlier matches, trounced Ireland 5-1 on Saturday to lead Group D with a maximum nine points.

In Group B, South Korea nipped Italy 1-0 to maintain their 100 percent record in the preliminary group stage. The Italians, runners-up to the Spaniards at Palma de Mallorca Universiade in 1999, went to the ninth-16th play-offs of the 16-squad tournament.

France joined Italy in grief. Having fought to a disappointing 1-1 tie with Uruguay, the Frenchmen collected two points from three matches for a third place in Group B, which saw Brazil and Morocco advance after the other 1-1 draw in Saturday's action.

Morocco toped the group with seven points after two wins and one draw, two points more than the Brazilians, bronze medalists in Palma. They will play Ukraine, 1-0 winners over Thailand, in the quarter-finals slated for Monday. Enditem nnnn China Women Spikers Waltz into Quarter-finals at Universiade

BEIJING, August 25 (Xinhua) -- China, seeking their fifth title in women's volleyball tournament at Universiade, waltzed into the quarter-finals by posting their third straight win on Saturday, overwhelming New Zealand 3-0.

The Chinese women spikers, who came back from two sets down to win the final in Palma de Mallorca games two years ago, had little trouble by defeating New Zealand 25-7, 25-5, 25-10 in just 50 minutes.

The Chinese women spikers have won the tournament in 1981, 1987, 1995 and 1999.

With the victory, China topped Group A with three wins against no loss.

A total of 15 countries and regions are competing in four groups in preliminaries, with top two teams from each group reaching the quarter-finals.

Another quarter-final berth in Group A was claimed by Canada, who trounced Britain 25-17, 25-8, 25-12 to book a record of two wins and one loss. Britain, with one win against two losses, ranked third in the group while winless New Zealand placed fourth.