Champs China made to labour by Bangladesh

China kicked off their Women’s Asian Cup title defence with a battling 2-0 win over resilient tournament debutantes Bangladesh in Group B on March 3, courtesy of goals from Wang Shuang and Zhang Rui.

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China forward Wang Shuang taking on Bangladesh defender Afeida Khandaker, 19, during their Women's Asian Cup Group B match in Sydney on March 3. PHOTO: EPA

(EPA)

But it was hard work in front of a boisterous crowd at Western Sydney Stadium against a young team ranked almost 100 places below them.

Earlier, Myong Yu Jong bagged a hat-trick as three-time champions North Korea marked their first game at the continental competition since 2010 with a slick 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in the same group.

China beat South Korea in Mumbai four years ago to win their ninth Asian Cup and are the most successful team in the tournament’s history.