New China coach warns of changes after scare

Iraqi's Ahmed Yaseen (centre) fights for the ball with Sun Ke (second from left) and Wu Xi (right) of China during their Asian Cup group match in Sharjah, on March 5, 2014. Iraq won 3-1.

SINGAPORE: New manager Alain Perrin warned China to expect changes and hard work ahead of next year’s Asian Cup Finals after they came perilously close to missing out on a place in the competition.

China had been expected to go through with ease in Wednesday’s final qualifiers but in the event, they needed a late penalty from Zhang Xizhe to scramble home on goal difference.