The Chinese U-23 national team, preparing for the soccer event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, edged Cameroon 1-0 at an international friendly yesterday in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province.

The hosts' playmaker Zheng Zhi scored the winner on 34 minutes, converting a self-earned spot kick to give new coach Ratomir Dujkovic a big present for his debut.

Cameroon were the better team in the first half. Striker Christian made a good shot after a fine touch at the edge of the box, but a focused goalie Wang Dalei caught the ball without problem.

Wang attracted most of the limelight after the interval, denying Christian on at least three one-on-one occasions, including three fantastic consecutive timely saves.

Cameroon piled on the pressure and created several scoring chances, but their efforts were in vain after defender Paul Roland was sent off.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2006)