Reigning champions China has hammered Bangladesh 5-0 to secure their spot in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-17 Championship Friday in Singapore.

China easily tore apart the Bangladeshi defense and stormed to a sound three-goal lead in the first half, cementing their position in the last eight.

All three of China's goals in the first half came from headers.

The prolific Ma Long opened the floodgates in the 27th minute off a header from a beautiful executed right wing free kick by Jiang Wenjun.

Two quickfire goals by Shandong Luneng hotshot Gao Di minutes before half time killed off any chance of a Bangladesh fight-back. Gao capitalised on Bangladesh's defensive lapses in the 42nd minute, and scored with a somehow awkward downward header. Two minutes later, Wu Hongyang turned provider with his left wing cross, converted superbly by the alert Gao.

Mahbub Hussein Roksy's Bangladesh packed their defense from the beginning with hardworking skipper Tawhidul Sabuz Alam leadng from the front but they simply couldn't match their formidable counterparts, who were a head taller.

The second half was the same story with China dominating play and scoring two more goals.

Li Haifang's powerful long range shot off a short pass by Tang Jiashu in the 77th minute left Bangladeshi custodian Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, who was arguably the busiest man on the pitch, helpless.

Ma Long's second goal of the game, in the 82nd minute, completed the rout and added to the Bangladeshis' woes.

China, after collecting seven points from three matches to top the group, were rewarded with a place in the last eight next Monday against the North Korea.

Syria, who beat Asean dark horse Vietnam 2-0 in another group game, finished second in the group with six points and will meet Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals on September 11.

(CRI September 9, 2006)