Germany beats China in a friendly match

Torsten Frings' 51st-minute penalty allowed Germany to escape with a 1-0 victory over visiting China in a friendly on Wednesday.

Although Germany controlled play, China had the best chances during a match in which 55,000 spectators started off cheering the home team, then switched to booing.

Dong Fangzhuo of Manchester United came closest for China when the 20-year-old's 76th-minute header ricocheted off the right post.

Without captain Michael Ballack, who has the flu, Germany could not get past a defense that kept 10 men back.

The match was likely to intensify the criticism heaped on the German team after a poor performance Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Turkey.

Sebastian Deisler and Bastian Schweinsteiger tested the Chinese 'keeper with some early long-distance attempts. But then the Germans were caught off guard and China ended the half with two good chances.

Chinese coach Zhu Guanghu has been trying to rebuild his team since its elimination from the 2006 World Cup last year and substituted freely.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has been attacked for his team's recent poor performances after one of the youngest teams in German history initially excited the public, AP reports.

А. А.