China 2 Curacao 0
We got our first chance to see World Cup qualifiers Curacao tonight, the mysterious Caribbean nation brought to our shores by the innovative FIFA Series initiative, and the first leg of their fantastic journey to the other side of the world ended in defeat against China. An even game of two contrasting styles, this was settled by a fabulous strike by Shihao Wei on the stroke of half-time and a reaction finish from Yuning Zhang on the hour. China may look back on this as ‘what could have been’, while they watch their opponents take the big stage in June, but tonight it was not as easy as it sounded.
We’ve heard the pulsating heartbeat music before, the FIFA International series borrowed it from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, but that was the only familiar aspect to accompany the FIFA flag’s appearance on the field ahead of the two teams. An annoying drizzle drifted through Accor Stadium, the stadium security, well undercover, donning their plastic ponchos and ticket holders in the front sections moving back into the more expensive seats to stay dry. The national anthems were a gentle relief from the booming music, the stadium shaking with the heavy bass, the Curacao anthem almost a remix of Advance Australia Fair.
Wenneng Xie won a corner after only ten seconds of play, the sudden silence after the five second countdown was stark as the enormity of the mostly empty stadium was revealed. Curacao looked like Real Madrid in their all-white three-stripe strip, China in their officially red but more like fluorescent orange uniform recently sported by the women’s team in the AFC Asian Cup. China were controlled in possession, and a decent group of their fans had congregated in the corner of the north end to make themselves heard. Goalkeeper Eloy Room had to be alert when China broke the offside, but the opening exchanges were remarkably level, two opposing styles giving this a real-life World Cup group stage flavour. The familiarly-named Juninho Bacuna bent one around the post when a loose ball fell his way, this was gong to be an entertaining game.
The Curacao players rolled the ball around beautifully, captain and former Aston Villa player Leandro Bacuno playing the pivot, Kenji Gorre providing the width on the left, they were confident and physical and looked like a team destined for the World Cup. A bizarre indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box gave China a good position, A-League referee Alex King referee deeming that the defender got a touch when shielding the ball from the Chinese striker, but it was too close to goal and too acute an angle to be truly dangerous. A delightful curling cross from Sherel Floranus was well defended by China and Yudong Wang was booked for pulling back his man, the China fans having moved down into the lower bowl now that the rain had stopped and not enjoying the decision. Juninho Bacuna was in the wars, first running into his defender and then thumped to the turf within minutes but without the benefit of VAR there would be no sanction.
Shangyuan Wang rasped a shot over the bar from distance as China threatened, while Juninho Bacuna curled one just over when the ball fell perfectly for him inside the area. Sontje Hansen took down a great ball to lay off for Joshua Brenet to fire in a shot that was blocked, and Curacao looked dominant as half time approached. What a shock it was then when an innocuous ball forward was flicked on into the path of Shihao Wei, who took aim and delivered a devastating left-foot finish to open the scoring. It was more-or-less the last kick of the half and it was perhaps harsh on the Curaçaoans, but appreciated by the Chinese fans, who had swollen in numbers and were enjoying what they were watching.
The half-time break revealed pockets of excited Curacao fans in a crowd that had steadily grown since the start. Four changes were made by the all-whites, the distinctive big hair of Tahith Chong coming on to run the midfield. Wei cut in from the left to fire in a vicious shot that was routine for Room, and China were suddenly on the attack, Yudong Wang connecting with a cross but heading wide under pressure. An injury to Leandro Bacuna had the referee surrounded by players, but the situation was diffused quickly. Substitute Jeremy Antonisse cut in to fire one wide, this was fast, open, attacking football from two talented teams, the growing crowd appreciating the atmosphere being created by the Chinese fans in the north west corner. Yellow shirts and hats signalled the entrance of the Socceroos fans for the main event, just as China doubled their lead. Yudong Wang got lucky on the left but his skill to beat his player and his tempting cross had the crowd excited and when Floranus cleared only to Yuning Zhang, an instinctive finish had the ball nestled into the net for 2-0.
Curacao made further changes, as if trying to make excuses if the score blew out, but when Chong surged past his man and teed up Jarl Margaritha for a run at the defence, he could have done better. Curacao were now on the attack, Margaritha’s shot deflected wide, and China made a triple substitution to help confirm that this was truly a friendly game. Every positive moment for China was cheered, every contentious moment was jeered, and Curacao continued to press, Tyrese Noslin doing well to read the defender and stealing the ball to fire a stinging shot just past the post. For all of Curacao’s exciting play, it was China who looked the most likely to score, their numbers racing forward to excitedly join the attack. Another triple substitution freshened up the China team again, but Jin Cheng picked up a silly booking for an impetuous late tackle right in front of the ref. With ten minutes remaining, a goal might freshen up the occasion, the China fans already singing as though they had the game wrapped up.
Kevin Felida gave the referee another easy yellow card, slicing down his man in close proximity. By now the game appeared beyond Curacao, but they kept pushing, their passes starting to go astray. It was a surprise when the final whistle sounded, the additional time seemingly incongruous with the amount of stoppages, and the players politely exchanged pleasantries in the centre of the field before the teams saluted their very different number of fans in opposing corners of the main west stand. This had been a satisfactory victory for China – the way they started on the attack looked more ominous than a 2-0 win, and Curacao definitely had good periods of controlled possession and will be quite a match for the Socceroos on Tuesday in Melbourne. An entertaining evening here in Sydney’s sports precinct at Olympic Park, the crowd starting to build ahead of the main event of the evening, Australia v Cameroon.
Join us back here for coverage of the second game of this FIFA series double-header.