Shui: Half-time team talk inspired Steel Roses to victory

Sat, 29 Jul, 2023

Shui: Half-time team talk inspired Steel Roses to victory

Adelaide: China PR head coach Shui Qingxia credited her half-time team talk with helping her side overcome Zhang Rui’s red card and hand Haiti a 1-0 defeat in Adelaide on Friday that keeps the Steel Roses’ FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 campaign alive.

Substitute Wang Shuang scored from the penalty spot in the 74th minute at Hindmarsh Stadium as the short-handed Chinese picked up a win over the tournament debutants to set up a decisive clash with England after Zhang was sent-off in the 28th minute.

The result pulls the Chinese level on three points in Group D with Denmark with one round of matches remaining and Shui’s side need a win over the European champions, who lead the group with six points, on Tuesday to harbour hopes of advancing to the last 16.

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Group D: Resilient China PR keep hopes alive

Sat, 29 Jul, 2023

Group D: Resilient China PR keep hopes alive

Adelaide: Wang Shuang’s penalty 16 minutes from time ensured China PR kept their FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 campaign alive with a 1-0 win over Haiti at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday despite playing for more than an hour with only 10 players.

Wang, introduced form the bench for the second half by coach Shui Qingxia, struck from the spot after referee Marta Huerta was advised to award a penalty by VAR officials when Zhang Linyan was upended in the penalty area by Ruthny Mathurin.
 
The goal came after the Chinese had played 50 minutes with 10 players following Zhang Rui’s sending off for a dangerous challenge on Haiti’s Sherly Jeudy and the Steel Roses were staring at elimination after England’s earlier 1-0 win over Denmark.
 
But the penalty decision, made after Huerta had originally awarded a free kick to Haiti after an incorrect offside call on Zhang, swung the game in China PR’s favour and Shui’s side now face England in Adelaide on Tuesday with their hopes of a place in the Round of 16 intact.

Group D: England close in on knockout stage spot

Fri, 28 Jul, 2023

Group D: England close in on knockout stage spot

Sydney: European champions England stood on the brink of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 last 16 after a Lauren James cracker in the sixth minute gave them a 1-0 win over Denmark on Friday.

But an otherwise hugely satisfactory night for England in front of just over 40,000 fans in Sydney was marred by what looked like a serious knee injury to influential midfielder Keira Walsh.
 
On a night of mixed emotions, Sarina Wiegman's side will seal their place in the knockout rounds if Asian champions China PR fail to beat debutants Haiti later Friday.

Kerr to be given until last minute to prove fitness

Fri, 28 Jul, 2023

Kerr to be given until last minute to prove fitness

Brisbane: Australia's captain Sam Kerr will be given until the last minute to prove her fitness for their must-win FIFA Women's World Cup clash against Canada on Monday, head coach Tony Gustavsson says.

The prolific striker missed Australia's opening two games - a 1-0 win over Ireland and Thursday's shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria - with a calf injury.
 
With the co-hosts' hopes of reaching the last 16 now in jeopardy, Gustavsson is desperate to have the Chelsea forward available.

#AsianQualifiers draw - What They Said

Fri, 28 Jul, 2023

#AsianQualifiers draw - What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: The Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 and Round 2 draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

Teams across Asia found out who their opponents are, in the battle to reach the Finals of two of the premier national competitions in the world of football.

the-AFC.com caught up with head coaches Philippe Troussier (Vietnam), Kim Pan-gon (Malaysia) and Aleksandar Jankovic (China PR), who were all in attendance for the draw to find out their reactions to the upcoming Asian Qualifiers that are scheduled to begin on October 12 .