China's soccer coach Zhu Guanghu has refused to quit after the 2-0 tame defeat that second-string Australia inflicted upon China in a friendly on Saturday in Guangzhou.

Sections of the crowd clamored for Zhu's head after the home side lost 2-0 to an Australian team deprived of many first-choice players.

A few days before the patch, Zhu was beset in his car by a mob of angry fans as he drove away from a match in Xiamen.

Zhu said he understood the fans' disappointment were upset but pointed to a spirited second-half revival, led by Manchester United's Dong Fangzhuo, as cause for optimism.

"The fans didn't want China to lose this match, that's why they said those things," Zhu said. "In the second half some players played very well, but they just weren't strong enough, so the crowd reacted. My job is to try my best, to fight for my country and make our football team much better in Asia."

China began the match in horrendous fashion with Australia, vitalized by a scintillating Mark Viduka, tore open their defense in the opening 30 minutes and threatened to turn the match into a rout.

Upon entering the field of play late in the first half, Dong tried to bring China back into it, patrolling the right flank and making a number of piercing attacks.

"Dong was very useful in this match and I'll use him much more in the future," Zhu said, also praising Energie Cottbus midfielder Shao Jiayi and Charlton's Zheng Zhi. "Blending our overseas and home-based players in one team is the key to making our team much better," he said.

Meanwhile Australia coach Graham Arnold, whose contract expires at the end of the Asian Cup, was delighted with the performance only three months before the tournament kicks off.

"I'm delighted with the couple of young boys who came out, and Brett Holman's work-rate was phenomenal defensively as well as in attack."

(China Daily via AFP March 26, 2007)