Head coach Gao Hongbo was left ruing China's lack of luck and experience as they slipped to a 3-2 loss to South Korea in the opening game of the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup on Thursday evening in Seoul.
Yu Hai and Hao Junmin netted within three minutes of each other in the second half for the Chinese, but only after an own goal from Zheng Zhi and strikes by Lee Chung-Yong and Koo Ja-Cheol had put Uli Stielike's side three goals up inside the first 66 minutes.
"Korea have more experience than China but I don't know if the three goals were because of experience or luck," said Gao.
"Our players gave their all for 90 minutes and I am satisfied with the technique and determination they showed tonight. We scored two and kept going till the end.
"This is the first game and we have to make allowances for our lack of experience. I think that we will have a better team after the next five or six games."
The Koreans took the lead in the 21st minute when Zheng deflected Ji Dong-won's header of Son Heung-Min's free kick past Zeng Cheng, while Lee doubled the advantage with a fine header in the 63rd minute. Koo then put Korea further in front when his close range effort went in off the post three minutes later.
The game looked over as a contest but Yu's left-foot shot from inside the area on 74 minutes gave China hope and, three minutes later, Hao scored with a superb free kick that Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong was unable to keep out.
China pushed for the equaliser and Ren Hang forced a fine save out of Jung as the Koreans hung on to take all three points.
"In the last 15 to 20 minutes, it was frustrating to let China back into the game through our mistakes," said Stielike.
"In the end a comfortable game with us leading 3-0 in the second half became a difficult one. We were going well with 20 minutes left but we switched off and let in two goals.
"The first goal came because of our mistake and then the second goal damaged us mentally for a while but the important point is that we won a tough first game. We have to play well for 90 minutes and not just 70 minutes."