BUSAN, South Korea, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese men's team picked up their first win in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship after they beat Hong Kong, China 2-0 on Wednesday.
Right defender Ji Xiang put China 1-0 ahead with a header in the eighth minute, and midfielder Zhang Xizhe converted a penalty in the 70th minute to seal the win for China, who lost to Japan and South Korea at their previous two matches.
"We earnestly wanted the win, and we did it," said Ji, whose goal is his first for the Chinese national team. "The goal is important for me, the win of our team is more important."
"But it also exposed our deficiencies which we have to work hard to improve," he said.
Despite his team's dispiriting performance against Japan and South Korea, Chinese team head coach Li Tie said he was proud to coach the Chinese national team.
"I am very proud to be head coach of Chinese national team, and it has been my childhood dream, a very important dream," he said.
"I can tell my daughters very proudly that their father realized a long-time dream," he added.
At the final match of the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, South Korea beat Japan 1-0 to land their third win from as many matches.
Hwang Inbeom scored the winner in the 28th minute to secure the title for the hosts.