Denmark 1-0 China: Amalie Vangsgaard scores late winner as Danes snatch three points in Women's World Cup opener
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Updated 22/07/2023 at 15:42 GMT
Denmark marked their return to the World Cup with a dramatic 1-0 win against China in their opening game of the 2023 World Cup. The Danes hadn’t qualified for the World Cup since the 2007 edition that was, ironically, held in China and in their first game they managed to secure all three points thanks to Amalie Vangsgaard’s late winner in stoppage time.
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A last-gasp goal from PSG’s Amalie Vangsgaard gave Denmark a 1-0 win against China in Group D.
Neither side was able to get many shots on target in the first half, though the second was more lively as both teams grew into the game.
China looked the stronger of the two before the break, but the second half was when Denmark had most of their chances and managed to convert their first shot on target.
Despite China being more viable in the first half, it was Denmark who got an early shot away in the first few minutes, but it was safely gathered by China goalkeeper Huan Xu at the near post.
China soon had a chance of their own, but the ball was sent over the crossbar by Qiaozhu Chen.
Forward Jiahui Lou then forced a Danish error as China applied the pressure, but her subsequent shot was saved by Lene Christensen.
Christensen continued to be a calm figure at the back for China and her and the defence held off the pressure of three successive corners.
Captain Harder secured a free kick by drawing a foul from Linyan Zhang, but Katrine Veje's delivery was not used to their advantage and as Denmark were offside, another opportunity was missed.
Lars Sondergaard's side increased the pressure on China, who kept their composure and avoided conceding.
Soon Harder went on the run for Denmark, but it proved to be to no avail as China's Rui Zhang's header denied the Danish captain's cross.
The next corner was punched away by goalkeeper Xu, and the score was left at 0-0 at half time.
In the second half it was China who had an early scoring opportunity, but Shuang Wang's delivery was sent over the goal by Mengwen Li. Wang then had a shot of her own, but it was saved comfortably by Christensen towards the middle of the goal.
The best of Denmark's early second-half opportunities initially came in the form of an open goal, although the shot into the empty net was missed by Josefine Hasbo after a ball in from Nicoline Sørensen with 50 minutes on the clock.
Second-half replacement Shuang Wang made a visible difference for China from the bench, but her shot on goal was sent wide.
China soon were awarded a free-kick, but Stine Ballisager Pedersen provided a strong header and kept the sheet clean for Denmark.
There was then another chance for Denmark from a free-kick after a challenge from Lina Yang and Qiaozhu Chen on Janni Thomsen, but China narrowly avoided an own goal by captain Shanshan Wang, as well as a potential deflection from Denmark's Simone Boye Sørensen.
Harder once again saw space, and after she controlled the ball with her chest managed to get shot away, but China's defence held firm.
With one minute remaining of normal time, a looping header from Vangsgaard soared over everyone in the box and landed neatly in the corner past the hands of goalkeeper Xu. It was Denmark’s first shot on target in the game, and it resulted in the first goal from a header so far at this World Cup.
As the clocked ticked into extra time an opportunity arose for China to level the score, but heroics on the line from Denmark's defenders, particularly Simone Boye Sorensen, combined with China's players being offside, meant that they remained goalless until the final whistle.
Denmark will next face England, who won 1-0 against Haiti earlier in the day. Next up for China it's Haiti, as both hope to get on the scoresheet and record a much-needed result.
TALKING POINT
Last minute winner makes for dream Danish return to World Cup. After a 16-year World Cup absence, Denmark's win could be pivotal to the group standings. In a match that was dubbed by many as a probable second-place decider, Vangsgaard's winning goal could help her team progress out of Group D.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Lene Christensen and Amalie Vangsgaard. Goalkeeper Christensen kept a calm head in goal to keep a clean sheet for Denmark, and Vangsgaard provided the winning goal from the bench with a long range header that was perfectly timed.
PLAYER RATINGS
Denmark: Christensen 8, Veje 7, Pedersen 7, Sevecke 6, Boye Sørensen 7, Kühl 6, Hasbo 5, Holmgaard, P. Harder (C) 7, Sørensen 7, Thomsen 6. Subs: Madsen 7, Bruun 6, Vangsgaard 8.
China: Xu 6, Chen 5, Wu, Li 4, Yao 4, Zhang 5, Yang 4, Zhang 4, Zhang 4, Wang 4, Lou 5. Subs: Gu 4, Gao 4, Wang 5, Shen 4.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
10' MISTAKE FROM DENMARK Jiahui Lou forces a mistake from Denmark in the corner as China apply the pressure and goes on to have a shot but goalkeeper Lene Christensen calms proceedings
38' YELLOW CARD - DENMARK Sevecke shown a yellow card after grabbing Linyan Zhang's arm and making no attempt to play the ball.
50' HUGE MISS FOR DENMARK An open goal missed by Josefine Hasbo after a ball in from Sørensen. Denmark's best opportunity so far goes over the bar from a header.
73' FREE KICK FOR DENMARK - ALMOST A GOAL It was almost an own goal for China's captain, or an assist for Simone Boye Sørensen as both leap towards the ball! The ball goes centimetres wide of the left post.
89' GOAL - DENMARK 1-0 A header from Amalie Vangsgaard loops over and down into the corner of the goal past Xu from outside the box! Their first shot on target in this match has resulted in a goal. Harder with the assist from a corner, and it's the first goal from a header this World Cup.
90' SAVED ON THE LINE Heroics from Denmark's defence, in particular Boye Sørensen on the line, deny China an equalising goal, as well as many of China's players being offside.
KEY STAT
- Amalie Vangsgaard’s goal, after 5 minutes on the pitch for her World Cup debut, was her first international goal, and the first of the tournament to be scored from a header.
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