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China secures 1-1 draw against Germany in Shanghai

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-30 11:07

BEIJING - Tianjin striker Hao Junmin scored in the fifth minute and China held on for a confidence-boosting 1-1 draw against Germany in Friday's football friendly in Shanghai.

Although Lukas Podolski leveled for the visitors less than three minutes later, the draw was a promising debut for China's new coach Gao Hongbao.

China's Zhao Xuri (L) is stopped by Germany's Thomas Hitzlsperger during their friendly soccer match in Shanghai May 29, 2009. [Agencies]

China has fallen to No.97 in the FIFA rankings and has failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Cheered by an enthusiastic home crowd, China grabbed the lead after Hao dribbled past three defenders and sent a tightly angled right-footed shot into the back of the German goal.

Germany wasted no time in hitting back through Podolski, who collected a pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger, turned and buried his shot from three meters out.

Related readings:  New China coach targets 2014 World Cup  China finally announce new national soccer coach  China draw with Germany

The sides exchanged numerous chances the rest of the way but neither was able to score a winner, though China's players said they were happy with the outcome.

"It's a result we never imagined. This is a whole new start. The most important thing, though, was to give the Chinese fans a reason to believe in us again," Hao said.

Defender Cheng Liang added: "Germany might have been tired and not in top form, but I think our performance was not bad at all."

China has fallen far behind the world's leading football nations since reaching the 2002 World Cup, and coach Gao has set his sights on 2014.

China next faces Iran on June 1 in the northern port city of Qinhuangdo and takes on Saudi Arabia three days later in nearby Tianjin.

Germany plays a friendly against the United Arab Emirates on June 2 in Dubai.