Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: China open account after beating South Africa to reignite hopes of advancing

Li Ying scores a superb volley in first half to give China first win
Mainlanders need at least one point against Spain in final group match to advance to next stage

Fifa Women's World Cup

Chan Kin-wa

Published: 11:14am, 14 Jun 2019

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China revitalised their World Cup hopes with a narrow 1-0 win over South Africa on Thursday night, although their performance came in for tight scrutiny by mainland media.

Li Ying, who was voted woman of the match, scored the only goal in the closing stages of the first half, superbly connecting with a cross from Zhang Rui to volley home from just outside the six-yard box for the winner.

Wang Shanshan had the opportunity to extend the lead shortly afterwards in the group B encounter at the Parc des Princes in Paris but her powerful header from a corner kick clattered off the crossbar and bounced down against the line before being collected by the goalkeeper. Goal-line technology showed the ball had not quite fully crossed the line.

After losing to Germany by the same scoreline in the opening match, China need a win over Spain in their final group game to guarantee a place in the next round while a draw could also work to ensure they progress as one of the best third-placed teams after Spain beat South Africa 3-1 in their opening match.

Coach Jia Xiuquan, a former captain of China’s men’s team, did not betray a hint of pleasure after the match as he said he wanted to “save it” until the final match against Spain.

“We need more clinical finishing if we want to beat the Spaniards and we need better control of the ball,” he said. “The players have shown improvement and I am confident they can play a better game in the next match.

Their desire to win has impressed me the most throughout the year and I’ve been deeply moved by this

China coach Jia Xiuquan

“I hope that the players can exhibit their true ability. Their desire to win has impressed me the most throughout the year and I’ve been deeply moved by this.”

Chinese newspaper Soccer, however, said the players made many mistakes during the match and their performance was not even as good as in the opening match against Germany, while two commentators, Liu Yang and Zhan Jun, said China needed another strong effort against Spain to advance to the next round.

China salute the crowd after their victory over South Africa. Photo: Fifa

Sun Qian, Fifa’s official team correspondent for China, said, “It was a beautiful game by the Steel Roses. But the coach is rather unsatisfied. It could have been more goals ... at the attacking end, China have yet to show their full clinical potential. Will everything click into place against Spain on the final group B matchday?”

China will face Spain at Stade Oceane in Le Havre on Monday.

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