Fifa Women’s World Cup: Vangsgaard’s late strike breaks China hearts as Denmark grab vital win in Perth
- Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard scores in 90th minute to earn side 1-0 win at Rectangular Stadium
- England beat Haiti in earlier game in Group D, leaving things evenly poised ahead of second round of matches
China face an uphill battle to book a spot in the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup after Shui Qingxia’s continental champions suffered a late 1-0 defeat in their tournament opener against Denmark in Perth on Saturday evening.
Amalie Vangsgaard’s 90th minute header condemned China to the loss in a game slated before kick-off as a must-win encounter with the pair drawn in the same group as heavily favoured European champions England.
The Women’s Asian Cup holders had been unable to find a way through to goal in an evenly fought contest before substitute Vangsgaard’s looping header bounced past goalkeeper Xu Huan to give the Danes a vital victory.
While England’s narrow 1-0 win over World Cup debutants Haiti earlier in the day suggests the contest for a place in the knockout rounds might be closer than expected prior to the tournament, Shui will rue the three dropped points.
China take on Haiti in their second Group D game in Adelaide on Friday and the Steel Roses must win that encounter to have any hope of maintaining their record of advancing to the knockout rounds every time they have appeared at the Women’s World Cup finals.
The Chinese will end their group phase campaign against the English, currently ranked fourth in the world and among the favourites for the title, on August 1, also in Adelaide.
