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China beats New Zealand 2-0 to advance to quarterfinals
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-20 22:24
TIANJIN, China?- Li Jie and Xie Caixia scored in the second half Thursday
to lead China to a 2-0 win over New Zealand, setting up a quarterfinal
matchup against Norway on Sunday at the Women's World Cup.
China's Han Duan (L) and New Zealand's Hayley Moorwood fight for the ball
during their Group D soccer match at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in
Tianjin September 20, 2007. [Reuters]
China launched repeated attacks but wasn't able to crack the gritty New
Zealand defense until the 57th minute when Li Jie scored off a free kick
from Zhou Gaoping, heading the ball over keeper Jenny Bindon.
Xie added another in the 79th minute, deftly outdribbling a defender and
launching a left-footed shot from close range.
Like in its other first-round games against Group D opponents Brazil and
Denmark, the underdog New Zealand squad's scrappy defense held off
repeated scoring drives. China outshot New Zealand 22-5.
Zhang Ouying's shot 50 seconds into the game was deflected out of bounds
by keeper Jenny Bindon, and was followed by numerous other misses. Near
the end of the period, Han Duan outdribbled several defenders but her
shot from six meters (yards) veered just out bounds.
Han's header in the 75th was batted over the goal by Bindon, followed by
a shot a minute later from Ma Xiaoxu that hit the crossbar.
New Zealand went home losing all three of its first round games, without
ever scoring a goal. It best chance to score in the game came in the 64th
minute, when Zoe Thompson charged at China goalie Zhang Yanru one-on-one,
but her shot went wide.
Zhang started in goal instead of Han Wenxia, whose mistakes in China's
last game against Brazil contributed to a 4-0 rout.
A boisterous crowd of 56,200 turned out at Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium
to cheer on the home team, setting off flares and chanting "Two to
nothing!" after China's first goal.
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