KUALA LUMPUR – Han Peng and Wang Dong netted two goals apiece as China kicked off their AFC Asian Cup 2007 campaign in style with a 5-1 trouncing of Malaysia at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday.

Shao Jiayi also scored for the 2004 runners-up who over-powered the co-hosts to send out a clear message of intent to Group C rivals Iran and Uzbekistan.

Substitute Indra Putra Mahayuddin grabbed a consolation goal for the Malaysians, who became the first of the four co-hosts to lose a match in the competition following victories for Vietnam and Indonesia against United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, respectively, and a draw for Thailand against Iraq.

China threatened as early as the second minute when Mao Jianqing crossed from the left to Wang whose first-time shot was well saved by Malaysia goalkeeper Azizon Kadir.

Han then missed a glorious chance in the seventh minute when he outjumped two Malaysia defenders to meet Wang’s cross from the right only to put his header wide.

Malaysia enjoyed a brief period of pressure with Akmal Rizal Rakhli narrowly caught offside on a through pass by Fauzie Nan but the Asian Cup 2004 runners-up would take the lead on 15 minutes after a finely worked goal.

A defence-splitting pass by Shao released Wang who took the ball to the right byline before cleverly lofting it to the far post where an unmarked Han headed easily into the back of the net.

The home side nearly found their way back into the game as Hairuddin Omar just failed to meet a Hardi Jaffar corner with his head.

But China turned up the heat as the half progressed and should have gone two goals up on the half-hour mark as Mao turned a Wang cut-back over the crossbar from three yards out.

It would be only a brief reprieve for Norizan Bakar’s side as China notched their second in the 36th minute. Chinese skipper Zheng Zhi was the provider this time with a cross from the left which was narrowly missed by a leaping Han but fell nicely for an unmarked Shao to stab the ball into the unguarded net from six yards out.

As the half came to a close, Akmal turned Zhang Yaokun on the right flank and centred the ball into the danger area where an alert Li Weifeng managed to scramble the ball away before it could fall into the path of Hairuddin.

Hairuddin had the first effort of the second half, heading a corner wide two minute after the break but the Chinese soon regained control when Shao’s left-footed shot from the edge of box was turned out by Azizon for a corner.

China duly extended their advantage on 51 minutes when Wang’s shot from edge of box took a big deflection off Fauzie Nan and rolled agonisingly past Azizon.

Four minutes later, it was 4-0 as Han easily notched his second of the game, tapping in at the far post after Mao’s cross from the left flew over the head of defender Norhafiz Zamani Misbah.

Substitute Indra Putra grabbed a consolation goal for the Malaysians in the 73rd minute, firing a low drive past Li Leilei from 25 metres after a fine lay-off by Hairuddin.

They could have got another shortly afterwards as Hardi fired in a free-kick from the right flank that eluded a crowd of players in the middle and very nearly surprised goalkeeper Li.

But Wang piled further misery on the co-hosts deep into injury time with a towering header that flew over the head of Azizon to complete an emphatic win for the Chinese.