China lost at the last minute in the 2023 Women's World Cup

* Scorer: Amalie Vangsgaard 89'

Before the match at Perth, China had never lost to Denmark in their previous three encounters at the World Cup, with one win and two draws. On the FIFA table, China ranked 14th, only one place behind Denmark. The developments on the field also showed that this was the most balanced match from the beginning of the tournament when neither team had too much control over the ball.

The defending Asian champion is a more confident starting team with good plays in the midfield. In the 10th minute, Zhang Linyan confidently dribbled the ball from the middle of the field and shot into the right corner, but goalkeeper Lene Christensen controlled the situation.

Contrary to China, Denmark misses many passes and lacks confidence in coordination. However, the European representative defense is still standing when China lacks sharpness in passing or decisive finishing. The audience sometimes booed when the two teams played too perfectionist and failed to create shots.

Early in the second half, the match was interrupted when a protester holding a banner ran into the field but security staff quickly suppressed it. Coach Shui Qingxia launched striker Wang Shuang into the field to create a new breeze in the first 15 minutes, but the tightness soon returned. When all were thinking about the goalless draw, Denmark broke the deadlock.

In the 89th minute, Mosegaard-Harder cornered the left wing to let Amalie Vangsgaard bounce higher than all the headers and hit the ground to score. China reacted when it said that the two Danish players were offside, even though they did not touch the ball, but it affected goalkeeper Xu Huan's ability to save. The referee consults the VAR and the final decision is to recognize the goal. This was Denmark's first goal since 2007 - the last time they attended the Women's World Cup.

Six minutes of compensation was not enough for China to retain a point and accept defeat in the opening match of the 2023 Women's World Cup. China and Haiti finished at the bottom of Group D with no points after the first match, while England and Denmark shared the top two places with the same three points, the same number of goals and the same goal difference.

Denmark: Lene Christensen, Rikke Sevecke, Stine Ballisager, Katrine Veje, Karen Holmgaard, Josefine Hasbo, Kathrine Kuhl, Janni Thomsen, Pernille Mosegaard-Harder, Nicoline Sorensen

China: Xu Huan, Li Mengwen, Wu Chengshu, Yao Wei, Chen Qiaozhu, Zhang Xin, Yang Lina, Zhang Rui, Zhang Linyan, Lou Jiahui, Wang Shanshan.