🏆 China keep hopes alive; England edge Denmark; SA draw with Argentina | OneFootball

After Argentina and South Africa’s entertaining draw overnight we have two more Women’s World Cup games to enjoy on Friday.

Defensive doggedness helps China overcome Haiti

Scorers: Wang (PEN) 74′

China kept their unlikely hopes of qualifying for the last 16 alive with a back-to-the-wall win over Haiti.

The bottom two sides in Group D went head-to-head in Adelaide as they looked for their first win in the tournament.

But things were made more difficult for China within half an hour as Zhang Rui was given her marching orders after a wold challenge earned her a red card.

Haiti were trying to make the most of their 10-woman advantage and thought they had scored right on the stroke of half time through Nérilia Mondésir.

Her close range effort however, was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Into the second half and Kethna Louis forced an astonishing save from China goalkeeper Yu Zhu, as she tipped a save over the bar when it looked like a guaranteed goal.

And Haiti were made to pay for that profligacy with 15 minutes to go as Zhang Liyan won a penalty for China.

Wang Shuang stepped up and cooly converted from 12 yards.

China’s unlikely win almost didn’t come to pass in added time as the referee pointed to the penalty spot after she saw a foul on a Haiti forward.

But a subsequent VAR check saw the referee overturn her original decision to give China all three points.

Mixed fortunes as England do just enough

Scorers: James 6′

There were mixed fortunes for England on Friday as they beat Denmark 1-0 but lost Keira Walsh to a suspected ACL injury.

Sarina Wiegman made two changes to her side for this clash in Sydney with Lauren James coming into the attack and Rachel Daly being named in her former position of left-back.

And James made an immediate impact as she curled in a stunning effort from the edge of the area.

Denmark really had no answer to the Lionesses in the opening exchanges with Keira Walsh looking impressive in the middle of the park.

But there was terrible news for England late in the first half as she was stretchered off with what looked like a bad knee injury.

Into the second half and the Lionesses were once again in almost complete control of the ball but, not for the first time this tournament, struggled to click in the final third.

With 20 minutes to go Alessia Russo fired an effort wide of the post for her first real action of the match.

And in the final moments Denmark thought they had equalised only for Vangsgaard’s header to come back off the post.

England though, held on to all but secure qualification.

Argentina snatch late draw against South Africa

Scorers: Motlhalo 30′, Kgatlana 66′ ; Braun 74′, Núñez 77′

Argentina came from two-goals down to snatch a point against Group G foes South Africa. Here is what went down in Dunedin.

The Group G rivals traded chances in the opening exchanges, as both sides looked to find their first win at the tournament.

South Africa’s chances took a blow in the first half, as skipper Refiloe Jane was forced off through injury inside the opening 30 minutes.

They would not miss their ailing captain for long however, thanks to Linda Motlhalo, who was played in behind the Argentina defense to see South Africa take a lead to the break.

After the restart, Argentina pushed to equalise, but the Banyana Banyana remained threatening on the break.

They were rewarded for their efforts past the hour mark when Jermaine Seoposenwe picked out her strike-partner Thembi Kgatlana with an inch-perfect cross, allowing Kgatlana to tap-home South Africa’s second of the night.

It looked as if the match would fizzle out, but Sophia Braun had other ideas. The full-back collected a clearance on the edge of the box before lashing home a superb half-volley to cut the lead in half.

La Albiceleste would not stop there, as they completed the turnaround minutes later to reclaim parity in dramatic fashion.

A Romina Núñez header from close-range found the back of the net to set the Forsyth Barr Stadium alight, and end South Africa’s hopes of winning their first ever Women’s World Cup match.

The shared points sees the two sides remain in the bottom two slots in Group G.