China laboured out a 2-1 comeback win over Singapore at the first group match in the third round of the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifiers?in Kunming?on Friday.

Chinese player Yu Hai celebrates after scoring the goal. China laboured out a 2-1 comeback win over Singapore at the first group match in the third round of the 2014 World Cup Asian qualifiers in Kunming on Friday.?[Xinhua]

"It's a tough game," said China's newly signed coach Jose Antonio Camacho. "The players used all their strength. We didn't give up after missing some good chances, including two shots against the woodwork."

"I have expected the result, but if we scored another goal in the first half, we may finish the game," commented Singapore boss Raddy Avramovic.

Singapore opened the scoring in the 33rd minute from China skipper Li Weifeng's dribbling error in the hosts' own half field. Tall striker Aleksandar Duric and his front line partner Qiu Li took good use of the chance to carve open the Chinese defence in the counter-attack, and Duric drove home a sharp small angle shot from Qiu's assist.

After missing a 59th-minute penalty kick, China levelled the score also by a penalty 10 minutes later by substitute midfielder Zheng Zhi. Yu Hai took the winner on 73 mintues after substitute Yu Dabao's powerful shot following Zheng Zhi's left wing cross was blocked by keeper Lewis, who replaced injured Izwan Mahbud in the 54th minute and denied Qu Bo's penalty five minutes later.

Midfielder Chen Tao went close twice in the game, but in both case the ball hit the post.

Avramovic was sent off for protesting the referee after giving the hosts two penalties.

"In the second half something happened, and things can happen like this," Avramovic lamented after the game.

It is the first win for China's coach Camacho since he took over from Gao Hongbo on Aug. 14. China is grouped with Iraq, Jordan and Singapore in Group A at the third round of the Asian qualifiers. The top two will qualify for the fourth round, which is made up of 10 teams.

China will meet Jordan in the next group match on Sept. 6, and Camacho is expecting a win at Amman.

China had only one world cup experience: Bora Miludinovic guided them to the 2002 South Korea/Japan edition.