Matchday Three - Group A: China PR end group campaign in style

The success underlined China’s position at the group’s summit after they had assured themselves of a place in the tournament’s semi-finals – and a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup – courtesy of their Matchday Two defeat of the Philippines.

After a bright start at the Amman International Stadium, it was China who were the first to threaten, tournament leading scorer Li Ying unleashing a drive from 15 yards which Jordan goalkeeper Salma Ghazal did well to gather on five minutes.

The visitors were not to be denied however, and they duly broke the deadlock in the 14th minute as Wang Shuang broke into the penalty area and rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

To their credit, Jordan, still smarting from their hefty defeat to Thailand on Matchday Two, refused to buckle and they drew level three minutes later when Sarah Abu Sabbah made the most of hesitant Chinese defending to poke the ball home at the far post following a testing Stephanie Al Naber free-kick.

A degree of clam followed the early storm, although a Wang Shuang thunderbolt that rebounded to safety off the Jordanian bar proved to be a sign of things to come for Jordan as, with an entertaining first half drawing to a close, Yasmeen Khair could only deflect Ren Guixin’s shot from close range into her own net to hand China the lead once again.