Chinese women's soccer beats New Zealand in Australia Cup

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 23, 2004

Chinese women's soccer beats New Zealand in Australia Cup

New Zealand women's soccer defied the heat but found China too hot to handle as they succumbed 0-3 in the Australia Cup clash in Brisbane Sunday night, New Zealand Press Association said on Feb. 23.

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New Zealand women's soccer defied the heat but found China too hot to handle as they succumbed 0-3 in the Australia Cup clash in Brisbane Sunday night, New Zealand Press Association said on Feb. 23.

China gained the ascendancy early at the QEII Stadium with striker Kun Wang scoring either side of a searing Yuan Xu volley in the 21st minute.

However, New Zealand limited the damage in the second half and had the better of the chances although they could not convert their dominance.

New Zealand lost stand-in captain Maia Jackman to a knee injury with 20 minutes remaining but she is expected to be fit for the Swanz finale against DPR Korea on Tuesday.

Sidelined skipper Rebecca Smith is also poised to return from a hamstring injury to join the defense.

Soccer New Zealand Technical Director Paul Smalley said he was pleased with the team's effort, particularly after the interval.

"We made three wrong decisions in the first half but we fought back well and had the better of the second spell.

"I told them 'forget about the first half, let's win the second' and they went close," Smalley said.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed until late afternoon Sunday due to a heatwave enveloping Queensland.

The game was eventually played in 44degC but Smalley said his players showed no ill effects.

Soccer Australia called in extra medical staff and supplied ice buckets and drink bottles on the sidelines to relive the players.

Source: Xinhua

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