Journal De Bruxelles - Denmark stun China in 90th minute for winning World Cup return

NYSE - LSE
CMSC -0.53% 20.81 $
BCC 2.64% 79.21 $
RIO 0.42% 103.27 $
RELX -3.21% 35.51 $
RBGPF 0% 70 $
RYCEF 0.7% 19.92 $
BCE -0.59% 23.67 $
CMSD -0.34% 20.69 $
VOD 1.89% 16.9 $
JRI -0.58% 12.14 $
NGG -0.06% 78.12 $
BTI -1.12% 55.35 $
AZN -1.27% 162.7 $
BP 0.52% 43.81 $
GSK -1.96% 49.89 $
Denmark stun China in 90th minute for winning World Cup return
Denmark stun China in 90th minute for winning World Cup return / Photo: Colin MURTY - AFP

Denmark stun China in 90th minute for winning World Cup return

Denmark ended a 16-year Women's World Cup absence with victory as a 90th-minute header from Amalie Vangsgaard broke China's hearts in Perth on Saturday.

Text size:

Vangsgaard soared highest to give Denmark a 1-0 victory and stun the crowd of 17,000 fans, most of whom were loudly supporting the Asian champions.

It was a significant victory for Denmark between two similarly ranked teams in Group C, which is headlined by contenders England.

Led by dynamic 22-year-old Zhang Linyan, China had been the aggressors in a match that failed to live up to great heights until the dramatic ending.

Having been an early powerhouse in women's football, finishing runners-up in 1999, China hoped a shock triumph at last year's Asian Cup could fuel a return to their former glory.

Star striker Wang Shuang surprisingly started on the bench, as an enterprising China dominated the early exchanges with their speed on the left wing rattling a nervous Denmark.

But they were let down by poor finishing with their best chance from Zhang forcing Denmark goalkeeper Lene Christensen into a low save to her left.

Denmark, whose entire line-up comprised World Cup debutants, finally settled, with captain Pernille Harder assertive in her return from a hamstring surgery.

But Denmark failed to penetrate a gritty China defence and their frustrations boiled over when Rikke Sevecke received a yellow card for shirt pulling just before half-time.

Wang started after half-time and made an immediate impact, rifling a long-range shot only to be thwarted by Christensen.

The contest opened up as both teams pressed, but Denmark's Josefine Hasbo missed a header in the 52nd minute with the goal at her mercy.

Denmark pressed aggressively and it paid off when Vangsgaard stepped up in the dying stages.

E.Carlier--JdB