Chinese media hail women's Asian Cup victory
31/7/2006 17:19
Chinese newspapers devoted full-pages to hail China's long-awaited victory
in the women's Asian Cup today after the "Steel Roses" grabbed their eighth
Asian title following a seven-year drought Sunday in Adelaide, Australia.
The
Chinese women's soccer team, dubbed the Steel Roses for their fighting spirit,
overcame hosts Australia 4-2 in penalty shootout after China came back from
behind to level the score at 2-2 in regular time.
"Seven years saw many
changes take place in the map of women's soccer in Asia, and China now face more
strong opponents than before, which made the victory all the more precious,"
said Beijing Youth Daily.
"Chinese women's soccer, experienced ups and downs
in the past seven years, has been in need of such a victory to boost their
confidence," the newspaper recalled.
Chinese women players were once
invincible in Asia, winning the Cup for seven consecutive times until the 13th
edition in Chinese Taipei where they finished third. They failed to claw back
the title two years later as they bagged bronze in Bangkok,
Thailand.
"Chinese women soccer climbs back to the top of Asia," headlined
China Sports Daily.
"The victory came right in time. It is not as easy for
the Chinese players to claim the title as before after seven years, so it will
be one of the most important wins in the Chinese women soccer history," it said
in a front-page commentary.
Beijing Daily Messenger remained cool.
"Spring
may have come but Chinese roses are yet to blossom because the World Cup stand
as the foremost test for them," it said.
China will host the World Cup in
2007.
Xinhua
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