QPR's Park Ji-sung is handed the captain's armband in the match with Sabah Selection yesterday. – VNS Photo Thanh Nga

KOTA KINABALU – Barclays Premier League team Queen Park Rangers (QPR) kicked off their Asian Tour by beating Sabah Selection 5-0 in a friendly match at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. yesterday.

Bobby Zamora, Heidar Helguson and Jay Bothroyd scored goals in the eighth, 64th and 70th minute of the match respectively. Djibril Cisse scored goals, in the 74th and 82nd of the match.

QPR manager Mark Hughes named a different eleven for each half, favouring a mix of youth and experience in each.

Park Ji-sung, who has signed a two-year contract, was in the first half but failed to score.

With skilful dominance and good physical strength, QPR played attack and controlled the match from the beginning. The hosts launched a number of counter-attacks, led by Titus Jhon, Londow Bonai and Octavianus Maniani, but failed to find the target.

Up to 20,000 fans flocked to the stadium, including Julian Andrew,17.

"I am very excited to see this match," Andrew said, "to see my idols such as Park Ji-sung and Djibril Cisse in the line-up of QPR. It is only friendly match so I don't care about the result."

Andrew said it was the first time locals could watch an international match, especially with the appearance of QPR, owned by Malaysian AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes.

"My friends and I bought tickets for US$10.50 each," Andrew added.

After Kota Kinabalu, QPR they will head to Kuala Lumpur for a match against newly crowned Malaysian Super League champions, the Kelantan FA team, at the Shah Alam Stadium on July 20, before going to Surabaya, Indonesia, to face local favourites Persebaya Surabaya on July 23 at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium. – VNS