New Zealand broke their scoring drought with goals to Rebekah Stott and Hannah Wilkinson but the talking point of an absorbing contest was a controversial penalty decision that saw China level the scores minutes before halftime.
The Football Ferns needed a win to progress to the knockout stages from one of the tournament’s toughest pools, and defender Rebekah Stott produced the moment of brilliance coach Tony Readings had called for, meeting a 21st minute corner at the back post with a blistering half volley of which any striker would be proud.
China equalised from the penalty spot four minutes before halftime when Betsy Hassett blocked a ball with her chest and was harshly judged to have handled the ball. Lisi Wang made no mistake from 12 yards.
The Chinese then went ahead on the hour mark with striker Shanshan Wang beating Erin Nayler to an enticing cross on the counter attack but Hannah Wilkinson restored parity three minutes later, scrambling the ball home after Amber Hearn headed an Ali Riley cross back across goal.
New Zealand pressed for the winner late in the game, spurred by player of the match Annalie Longo, who played through to the final whistle with a suspected broken bone in her foot.
There was more drama late in the match with Chinese coach sent from the field for interfering with Ria Percival as she tried to take a quick throw in with pressure mounting on China.
The Football Ferns weren’t going to die wondering as Tony Readings rung the changes with time ticking down, pushing numbers forward and rejigging the formation to create overloads but ultimately the Football Ferns ran out of time.
After the match head coach Tony Readings said they done everything they could and that the game was ultimately decided by an ‘uncontrollable.’
“We were very attacking throughout the game and became even more attacking as the game went on,” he said.
“It’s the third game in a row where we’ve said the same thing. The performances we’ve put in haven’t got the results we deserve in this group.
“In terms of overall performance we couldn’t be any prouder of the players today. They left everything out here because this means a hell of a lot to them and they worked extremely hard.”
With Canada and the Netherlands also drawing, 1-1 in Montreal, China finish in second place behind the hosts while the Dutch are almost certain to join them in the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.
New Zealand ended with two points from two draws – its best ever Women’s World Cup haul – but that was scant consolation for a frustrated Football Ferns camp.
Readings vowed that the Football Ferns would deliver on the promise they showed in Canada next year in Rio.
“We felt like we were one of the better teams in this group across the three games we played yet we haven’t got the results,” Readings said.
“This is a special group of players. It’s been one of the two toughest groups in the tournament.
“We’ve underachieved but we haven’t underperformed. Football is such a close game; a referee decision or a ball bouncing the wrong way can make all the difference. But we need to be better so that these things go in our favour.
“This team has massive potential. Despite the fact we’ve got a few centurions, two of them are 25 years old and we’re going to have the core of them at the Olympics and even the next World Cup.”
FIFA Women’s World Cup
China 2 (Lisi WANG pen 21’, Shanshan WANG
New Zealand 2 (Rebekah STOTT 28’, Hannah WILKINSON 63’)
Halftime: 1-1
Crowd: 26, 191
Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg
Monday 15 June, 2015
New Zealand: 1-Erin NAYLER (GK), 2-Ria PERCIVAL, 4-Katie DUNCAN, 5-Abby ERCEG (captain), 6-Rebekah STOTT, 7-Ali RILEY, 9-Amber HEARN, 10-Sarah GREGORIUS (13-Rosie WHITE 46’ / 11-Kirsty YALLOP 87’), 12-Betsy HASSETT (14-Katie BOWEN 46’), 16-Annalie LONGO, 17-Hannah WILKINSON.
Substitutes not used: 3-Anna GREEN, 8-Jasmine PEREIRA, 15-Meikayla MOORE, 18-Catherine BOTT, 19-Evie MILLYNN, 20-Daisy CLEVRLEY, 21-Rebecca ROLLS (GK), 22-Emma KETE, 23-Cushla LICHTWARK (GK).
Coach: Tony READINGS
Cautions: Abby ERCEG, Katie DUNCAN
For more on FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ visit www.fifa.com