Fifa Women’s World Cup: late Wang penalty keeps China’s hopes alive in dramatic win over Haiti

Substitute Wang Shuang’s penalty 16 minutes from time kept China’s Women’s World Cup challenge alive in Adelaide on Friday, as the Steel Roses overcame Zhang Rui’s 28th minute sending off to register a dramatic 1-0 win over tournament debutants Haiti.

The slender victory was greeted with a roar from the majority inside Hindmarsh Stadium and Shui Qingxia’s side will take on England on Tuesday knowing their hopes of a place in the Round of 16 remain intact.

China have never missed out on the knockout rounds of the tournament in the nation’s seven previous appearances at the finals, but their Group D victory over Haiti was not without controversy.

Shui’s side benefited from the use of VAR to claim the three points, with officials overruling a decision by referee Marta Huerta to award a free kick to the Haitians after a passage of play that ended with Zhang Linyan being brought down in the area by Ruthny Mathurin.

The review found that Zhang was not only onside but that Mathurin’s clumsy challenge in the box was a foul and the Spanish referee belatedly pointed to the spot, allowing Wang to coolly roll the ball home.

It was a fortuitous outcome for a China side that had been reduced to 10 players in the 28th minute when Zhang Rui was sent off for a nasty challenge on Sherly Jeudy, the midfielder left with blood streaming from her knee after being caught by the Chinese player’s studs.

The loss of Zhang stymied her side’s positive start as the Chinese sought to use their technical ability and guile to overcome the more physical Haitians.

However, the only glimpse of goal in the opening 20 minutes came when Wu Chengshu released Li Mengwen down the right and her looping cross was weakly volleyed off target at head-height by Lou Jiahui.