WUHAN - Song Xiaoli scored the winning goal with less than two minutes left in regulation, lifting China to a 3-2 win over Denmark in its World Cup opener Wednesday in Group D.
Song, who came off bench in the 58th minute, sealed a game that saw two pairs of back-to-back goals. Her soaring, long-range shot sent Danish players crumpling to the ground in anguish, just seconds after they had pulled even on Cathrine Paaske Sorensen's header.
The win heightens the home crowd's expectations ahead of China's upcoming game against Brazil, which is favored to win Group D.
Brazil beat an overmatched New Zealand 5-0 earlier Wednesday in the other group game.
China struck first in the 30th on a free kick after Bi Yan was tripped up at the top of the box. Denmark keeper Heidi Johansen was not able to see Li Jie's shot through the wall and couldn't react until the ball was in the net.
Bi made it 2-0 in the 50th, firing off a long shot on the run. But the widening margin distracted the Chinese players, and they allowed Denmark to answer just one minute later when Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen drilled in a header off a corner kick.
By spreading the ball onto the sides of the field, the No. 6-ranked Danes kept the Chinese on the run. They were in possession of the ball more than half the time, 54 percent, but were outshot 16-11.
Despite the win, the game revealed weaknesses in China's offense. Striker Han Duan created several plays using her speed and some crowd-pleasing fakes and backheel passes, but her 19-year-old counterpart Ma Xiaoxu was a disappointment.
In the second half the hyped "Hanma" duo (Hanma means "Humvee" in Chinese) played a sloppy game, frequently losing the ball to Danish players and showing bad judgment.
China was once one of the world's top teams but has slipped to No. 11. following four consecutive losses at this year's Algarve Cup, the "Steel Roses" turned to a foreign coach for the first time, hiring Marika Domanski-Lyfors from Sweden.
The home crowd of 50,800 cheered and sang tirelessly throughout the match, accompanied by drums, cymbals and horns. At one end, fans passed around a giant replica of the Chinese jersey, and it fluttered from one side of the section to the other.
The Danes have beaten China only once, back in 2001.
看律政剧必备的法庭词汇(2)
给孩子取这些英文名的父母 脑子里一定进了水
电影史上最棒的三部曲TOP10:有你最爱的吗
美媒大选预测出错 尴尬召回十万《女总统》特刊
别自卑,你比你想象的更成功
翻译中不要滥用四字格
2016年12月英语四级作文预测:制定目标的重要性
定语从句的翻译技巧:顺势断句
上海将试行首家无性别公厕 缓解女性排队问题
英语四级作文预测:大学生兼职
1207亿 阿里双十一交易额再创纪录
与月亮相关的英语口语
翻译学习者必看:翻译工作者宪章
如何用英语告诉别人 你没空?
课本上学不到的口语表达第三波
特朗普的大女儿伊万卡的演讲,第一秒就爱上了她
男子发明“自动打脸机”吐槽美国大选
女生应该和矮个子男生约会的四大理由
别再孤军奋战了,男女搭配减肥不累!
中国首位女性J10飞行员在飞行事故中死亡
拖延症和懒癌怎么治?
《神奇动物在哪里》中文预告片
哈里王子为女票发声明怒怼媒体!男友力爆棚!
新德里污染太严重 市民兴起“雾霾自拍”
瑞士推出新款巧克力 可有效缓解生理疼痛
看律政剧必备的法庭词汇(1)
2016年12月大学英语四级作文预测:出国留学
做个快乐人,能让你的另一半更健康
双语名言:启人心智的哲人名言15则
大学英语四级考试作文范文:挫折
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |