Chinese coach lauds team’s warriors
China’s ‘Steel Roses’ marked their return to the elite of world football on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Cameroon which booked them a ticket to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup.
A first-half goal from defender turned forward Wang Shanshan set up a meeting with either the United States or Colombia in the final eight next Friday.
It also sent Africa’s last remaining team crashing out of the tournament.
Coach Hao Wei had a touchline ban and watched from the stands as his team bravely fought in cold and wet conditions at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
But his side closed down the game early when Wang Shanshan got the opener after 12 minutes when she picked up a pass from Li Dongna who did well to control a Wang Lisi corner.
“Today all the players were wonderful, they put on a spectacular performance, demonstrating amazing resilience and bravery,” said assistant coach Chang Wei-Wei.
“They fought like warriors for over 90 minutes. I want to thank them for their hard work.”
China, runners up in 1999, failed to qualify for Germany 2011 or the London Olympics the following year.
Revitalised
But the team have been revitalised since Hao was appointed coach soon after.
“Under the leadership of coach Hao over two or three years we have witnessed tremendous improvement in the Chinese team,” said Chang. “He has selected many young players who are so energetic and enterprising. I think they can reach even higher goals in the future.”
The defence of the 16thranked Chinese was rock solid allowing few chances for 53rdranked Cameroon’s energetic forwards. Cameroon’s best chance of the first half was a free-kick from Gaelle Enganamouit which deflected from the wall into the path of Gabrielle Onguene who fired into the sidenetting. But once 25-year-old Wang scored her second goal of the tournament it was impossible for Cameroon to get through.