SHANGHAI, Jul 11 -- CHINA stormed to an emphatic 5-1 victory over Asian Cup co-hosts Malaysia yesterday, putting on the most impressive display of the tournament so far as it cruised to victory in its Group C opener.

The 2004 runner-up became the first of the favored teams to score a victory in the tournament after Australia and defending champion Japan were held to respective 1-1 draws by Oman and Qatar in their opening group matches.

Despite enjoying home advantage, Malaysia failed to emulate the performances of fellow southeast Asian co-hosts Vietnam and Indonesia, both of whom scored surprise victories in their first games.

Thailand is the other nation hosting the 16-team tournament that culminates with the final in Jakarta on July 29.

China's goal rush began after just 15 minutes when striker Han Peng headed in Wang Dong's high cross from the right after Malaysia's defense was split open by some dynamic approach play.

Midfielder Shao Jiayi, who plays for Energie Cottbus in the German Bundesliga, doubled the lead after 36 minutes with another free header.

Any hopes of a Malaysian comeback were dashed six minutes after the break when Wang made it 3-0 with a snap-shot from outside the box that deflected in off defender Fauzie Nan.

Han made it 4-0 with his second goal of the match four minutes later, when he turned in Mao Jianqing's cross from the left.

Malaysia scored a consolation goal in the 73rd minute when substitute Indra Putra beat Li Leilei with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Wang restored China's four-goal advantage with a looping header in the final minute.

China plays its next match on Sunday against Iran, which opens its Group C campaign against Uzbekistan today.

Earlier in Jakarta, Indonesia forward Bambang Pamungkas's second-half strike gave the co-hosts a 2-1 victory over Bahrain in a lively Group D opener.

In sweltering heat in the Gelora Bung Karno stadium, both sides had chances as the play swung swiftly from end to end.

But it was Pamungkas, who had troubled the visitors with his trickery around the box, sealed Indonesia's win 18 minutes into the second half when he blasted home a rebound after the Bahrain keeper could only parry a ferocious Firman Utina shot onto the post.

Indonesia coach Ivan Kolev played tribute to his side's desire and said all the team played well.

"They wanted to win. They proved to all of us that they can win," Kolev told a post-match news conference, where he also thanked the noisy home fans who had filled much of the 88,000-capacity stadium in the capital.

Asked about his strategy for the game, he said: "We did study how Bahrain played. And then we tried to anticipate clearly with the ability of Indonesian players."