China hold off Cameroon to advance to quarterfinals

Wang Shanshan’s early strike for China PR proved the difference in their second-round clash with Cameroon.

In one of the most entertaining games of the Women’s World Cup thus far, both sides created a lot of chances at either end, but it was the Chinese who booked a place into the last eight where they will play the winner of Monday’s game between the United States and Colombia.

China took the lead barely 12 minutes into the game from a corner which found Li Dongna who then centred the ball to Shanshan who volleyed home.

A free kick from Gaelle Enganamouit was Cameroon’s best chance in the half to draw level, but her shot was deflected from the wall into the path of Gabrielle Onguene who could only find the side-netting.

The second half resumed on the same note with Cameroon on the attack while China resorted to counter-attacking strategy.

Enganamouit twice tested the Chinese keeper with a header going wide while another hit the cross bar.

Cameroon never gave up and pressured till the final minutes.

Enganamount challenged an aerial ball with goalkeeper Fei Wang, but her header couldn’t connect. Substitute Henriette Akaba saw her own header sail off the mark in the 87th minute. China kept their cool and booked their place in the quarter-finals.

Germany continued their march towards a third FIFA Women’s World Cup title with a convincing 4-1 win over Sweden at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Stadium.

Two goals from Celia Sasic and one each from Anja Mittag and Dzsenifer Marozsan gave Silvia Neid’s side a place in the last eight where they will face the winner between France and Korea Republic who meet on Monday.