China beats Russia 1-0 in Women's World Cup

Home>>Sports

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 29, 2003

China beats Russia 1-0 in Women's World Cup

China upset Russia 1-0 in a Group D match at the ongoing Women's World Cup on Sunday in Portland of US, topping the group to qualify for the quarterfinals.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China beats Russia 1-0

China got a first half goal from Bai Jie and held on to beat Russia 1-0 and claim the top spot in Group D, thereby avoiding Germany in the quarter-finals.

In front of a large, partisan crowd, China started well, and Bai Jie, once again playing in attacking role, controlled a fine pass inside the Russian area and struck a rising shot that was well saved by Russia�s Alla Volkova (3�).

Sun Wen had a goal ruled out for offside, then Pu Wei hit a 20-yard snapshot that fizzed into the gloves of Volkova as the Steel Roses continued to pose a threat to the European goal (11�).

Undeterred Sun Wen threaded through a superb pass for Bai Jie who beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper and fired home right-footed to give China a deserved lead (1-0, 16�)

Ma Liangxing�s girls were well on top, and they had a great chance to double their lead when Sun Wen was held and brought down in the box. Liu Ying stepped up to take the penalty but fired two yards wide of Volkova�s right-hand post (21�).

Sun Wen had two good chances before half-time to grab her 12th and record-equalling goal of the FIFA Women�s World Cup. First, she chested down a cross on the edge of the area and swivelled deftly before shooting just wide. Then, she nipped in front of Marina Saenko to reach a long cross and watched in agony as her delicate header hit the wrong side of the post (28�).

It was mostly one-way traffic with Russia unable to break the Chinese stranglehold, but on a rare foray forward Alexandra Svetlitskaya fired a 25 yarder inches past the post (39�).

China came right back and Liu Ying cracked a beauty just over from distance (41�), but Russia responded with Saenko smacking a trademark free-kick that Han Wenxia kept out with great difficulty as the boisterous crowd were treated to an exciting finish to the first half (43�).

Russia began the second half on the front foot pushing forward for the equaliser. But apart from a Tatiana Egorova shot from distance (59�) and another Saenko free kick (68�) they never really troubled Han Wenxia�s goal.

After the frantic opening to the first half the second period was strangely subdued. Having weathered the storm, China responded and had two good opportunities � both for midfielder Pu Wei - to make the game safe. The first came after another fine run from the dangerous Bai Jie.

The striker cut inside from the right touchline and slipped the ball to Pu Wei but the midfielder, well placed on the edge of the area, struck her shot high over the bar (69�). Then the Shanghai Zhongyuan player latched onto a clever lobbed ball from substitute Ren Liping but, once again, she shot wastefully over the bar (72�).

The Steel Roses have been finding it difficult to break down defences in these finals and despite creating a host of chances here they have managed to score no more than one goal in each of their group games.

Sun Wen had a free kick saved fairly comfortably at the near post (82�) and then from her delightful chip into the box, Bai Jie pulled the ball back for Ren Liping to clip inches over the bar (86�) but there was to be no second goal and no Russian fightback as both sides advanced, China the happier, through to the quarter-finals. (FIFAWorld)

Questions?Comments? Click here

Ghana upsets Australia 2-1 to send China through at WWC

China held 1-1 by Austrilia in women's soccer World Cup

China edges Ghana 1-0 in Women's World Cup

>> Full Coverage

Revaluation of Japanese Yen, a historical lesson to draw: analysis ( 6 Messages)

Russia will honor pipeline deal with China: Russian PM ( 2 Messages)

China to build world's largest campus computer grid ( 3 Messages)

Taiwan authorities condemned for tampering with history ( 3 Messages)

China in dire need of its own brands: news analysis ( 2 Messages)