Kang Seong-jin (top) of South Korea is tackled by Zhu Chenjie of China during their 2022 East Asian Football Federation E-1 Football Championship men's match at Toyota Stadium in Toyota City in Aichi prefecture, Japan, July 20, 2022. (ZHANG XIAOYU / XINHUA)

TOKYO - China lost to South Korea 3-0 in their opening match in the East Asian Football Championship men's tournament in Aichi, Japan on Wednesday.

South Korea took the initiative at the beginning of the match, putting Chinese players under much pressure. By the 36th minute, China already had 10 fouls, while their counterpart had only three

South Korea took the initiative at the beginning of the match, putting Chinese players under much pressure. By the 36th minute, China already had 10 fouls, while their counterpart had only three.

It did not take so long for the pressure to detonate. South Korea took a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute as Chinese defender Zhu Chenjie's clearance turned out to be an own goal.

At the end of the first half, China had only 26 percent possession of the ball and an even more embarrassing record: 0 shots on goal.

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Kwon Chang-hoon extended the lead for South Korea with an easy shot in the box in the 54th minute.

China's substitutions did not work. In the 80th minute, South Korean striker Cho Gue-sung scored on Goh Young-joon's through ball to seal the 3-0 win.

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According to China's head coach Aleksandar Jankovic, South Korea is strong and experienced. They dominated the latter part of the first half. But he believed that Chinese players will evaluate this match and improve their skills and tactics.

The Chinese team, mainly composed of U-23 players, will face Japan on Sunday and Team Hong Kong on July 27.