China beats New Zealand 2-0 to advance to quarterfinals
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]
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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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