Thank you so much for joining me for this match! China had a lot of chances but it is Denmark who come away with the win. We will be back with more live action tomorrow, until then have a great Saturday.
Do Australia have a chance of winning the World Cup if Sam Kerr doesn’t recover from her injury? Read more:
So that is the end of the action for today but there are some great matches tomorrow. We will live coverage on those, which are:
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Sweden v South Africa
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Netherlands v Portugal
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France v Jamaica
While we wait for this report to come in, have a read of England’s win over Haiti:
Fun fact, Vangsgaard’s goal is the first header scored at the 2023 World Cup! This is also the first game not to feature a penalty this tournament.
Do you think Sevecke is offside and interfering with the Xu in Denmark’s winner? Have a look below (the clip is from the BBC so you may not have access if outside the UK):
It is Vangsgaard’s finish from a corner that seals this match after a fragmented and scrappy fight. China may have had the upper hand overall but it is the Dane who come away with the three points. Denmark share top spot with England in the group, the two nations face each other next time out.
90 + 6 min: Oh my gosh! S Wang whips in a free kick and it is almost in, Boye gets it off the line but China were offside anyway. Wow.
90 + 4 min: Denmark attempting to compound their lead but they are ruled offside. They are running down the clock here though. Denmark have been far from their best today and I think China were the better team overall. The goal was well worked but China will rue their missed chances if it stays as it is.
90 + 2 min: There will be six minutes added, plenty of time for China to find an equaliser.
90 + 1 min: Rachel Brown-Finnis is saying it should be reviewed as Sevecke’s run toward Xu put her off and Sevecke seemed offside. But VAR has now looked at it and the goal stands!
Yes it can be broken! Harder sends the corner in and Vangsgaard leaps to head home.
89 min: End-to-end football continues with Denmark on the attack now. Harder wins a corner, can the deadlock be broken?
88 min: Veje pops a throw in but Bruun’s touch sees it out for a goal kick. Oo a lovely bit of play from China there as L Zhang gets in a good position but she eventually sees it out for a goal kick. The fragmented game continues.
86 min: Veje boots it into the box but it doesn’t connect with any teammate. China make another change Gao is on for Li and Denmark also make a replacement with Thomsen off for Vangsgaard.
84 min: Bruun has a shot there which came from a lovely bit of play from Madsen, it goes behind for a corner. Veje takes the corner but it is initially cleared, it comes to Madsen but her shot is wide.
82 min: A great bit of defence there from Denmark as they cut out a cross. China come again but they are judged offside. Harder then gets in a great position but she spends too long on the ball and the opportunity is gone. Ruth has got in touch and said: “So a GK can punch another player and it’s not a penalty. What a joke.” Xu made contact with the ball before making contact with Madsen, who also had her eyes on the ball – a football accident I would say.
80 min: Harder coughs up the ball but Denmark quickly win it back. A foul occurs but the referee doesn’t blow for it and so China are away,
79 min: China make another change with Shen on for Lou. Shen is immediately on the ball as China set up a chance but S Wang’s shot is over the bar.
77 min: So close again from Denmark! A cross comes in and Madsen and Xu colliding. They were both committed there, I doubt there will be a penalty call. Both players getting treatment but both okay to continue.
76 min: Thomsen wins a free kick in a good position and it thumps in. SO CLOSE! It’s almost an own goal but it is out for corner. The corner is sent in but Boye’s shot is wide. That is probably the closest they have come to scoring.
74 min: I can’t say this is the most thrilling match of the tournament so far! Denmark next to make a change with Sorensen off for Madsen.
72 min: Veje makes a great run but her pass only finds a Chinese player. It comes back to Ballisager and she misses the ball, R Zhang has a punt and it’s way over the bar.
70 min: S Wang takes the corner but it is well cleared by Ballisager. Denmark now building from deep, Sorensen crosses in but it’s cut out.
68 min: C Wu draws a foul and wins a free kick for China in a good position. It’s whipped in and Ballisager sees it over, corner to come.
66 min: Sorensen pops the ball through but it’s cleared, Denmark are definitely threatening more but they just need the final pass. Harder fouls and China are in possession. They get it into the box but it’s repelled and it comes to S Wang who puts in a shot but it’s over.
64 min: Sorensen with a poor touch as Denmark tried to build a chance there, a simple take and she puts it out of play.
62 min: Denmark now have to defend with China peppering the box with crosses, the Europeans manage to clear for now. L Zhang makes a great run to beat Boye but the crowd boss as the Chinese player s pulled for a foul. Denmark make their first change with Kuhl off for Bruun.
60 min: Sorensen sends in a great ball and Harder almost gets her header home! Chen does really well to defend, conceding a corner in the process. Veje sends it in but it is cleared easily.
58 min: Sevecke has a long throw in but China come away with it. Sorensen manages to track back and win the ball with Denmark building from deep once again.
57 min: Players receive some treatment and take on some water in a slight break in play but everyone is okay to continue.
56 min: Xu is way out of goal but she boots it upfield and puts China in a great position. Denmark are able to clear and Harder gets the ball to the edge of the box – she is hustled though. Scrappy with glimpses of skill at the moment.
54 min: Kuhl is lucky to keep the ball there after a loose pass but it takes Denmark a while to create anything with sustenance. They try and win a corner but it is out for a goal kick.
52 min: Veje whips it in but it has too much on it, a wasted opportunity. Sorensen sets up a chance. Sorensen get it and crosses, it comes to Hasbo and she should have scored there. She gets a head to it but it is over the bar.
50 min: S Wang gets a shot on target, a great replacement for China, but Christensen saves. Now here come Denmark, Harder pops it in but it doesn’t come off. It comes to Hasbo who wins a corner.
49 min: L Zhang wins China a free kick in their own half but it doesn’t come to anything and Denmark are in possession. The ball is exchanged between the teams – a lot more of the same from the first half.
47 min: China have made a change at the break with S Wang on. China start the half brightly with a chance immediately as Li’s shot sails over the bar.
Here we go then! Back underway to the action
Caroline has got in touch and shed some light on the crowd booing: “The booing was when there was a pitch invader – tackled by two security guards just near the Danish keeper and carted away.”
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A fun fact, there has not been a game so far in this World Cup where both teams have scored.
The expected goal stats for this game are Denmark 0.4 and China 0.32, so don’t hold out hope for seeing a goal in the second half.
China may have the overall upper hand but in terms of chances it has been fairly even. Harder and L Zhang both having good games.
45 + 1 min: Two minutes added here and China have a free kick but from their own half. They get it in the box but Christensen is the only player there to receive it.
45 min: Denmark come again but China manage to clear, this feels as though it will end 0-0.
44 min: A missplaced pass from China sees Harder on the edge of the box, she pops it in and R Zhang heads away but concedes a corner. It’s in an Xu punches and accidentally hits her own player, the chance is gone as Xu is fouled.
42 min: Sevecke gets a yellow card for a clear shirt pull and China have a free kick, a fair way out from goal but it’s a good platform. It’s popped in and it falls to L Zhang but she can’t connect! So close to an opener.
40 min: The crowd are booing but I’m unsure as to why. China have had a long time on the ball now and are being patient in their build-up but are still unable to get close to the box. It’s out of play now and Denmark can set their own play.
38 min: There hasn’t even been a clear cut chance in this first half for either team as a highlight. Chances will come but the clinical edge for both teams needs to be there.
36 min: A great run and cross but Xu is able to deal with it. China now on the attack but Denmark are quick to win it back, Kuhl gives the ball away cheaply though.
34 min: Lou has masterful footwork to get into space and she crosses in but Christensen collects.
33 min: While we wait for play to get back underway Kari has emailed: “China have been the much better team, but the longer they go without scoring, the likelier it’ll be that Harder gets the one chance she needs to strike. It’s not often it’s such a clear battle between team and individual quality.” I agree to a certain extent. China the stronger for sure but I think it is not just Harder in the Denmark side that could score. Kuhl or Sorensen could get on the end of a goal. We are back in action and Thomsen is okay to continue.