Inspired China aims to top Cup group

WUHAN: China's women's soccer players are brimming with optimism after their nail-biting 3-2 victory against a resilient Denmark during both sides' opening clash at the World Cup on Wednesday.

The host players underlined their quiet determination to beat Brazil in Saturday's match and qualify for the semifinals top of the group.

"We have to play 100 percent every match to win, " China's proud head coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors said.

"We played 100 percent and beat Denmark. We also have to play a 100 percent game to beat Brazil. It is the opening game in the group.

"To win the first match is a good start before playing Brazil.

"We will try to win the match against Brazil. To beat them would be very, very good."

China's chances of reaching the semifinals, its tournament goal, will be amplified if it wins Group D and books an encounter with the second-placed team from Group C, which includes favorite Norway and lower-ranked Australia, Canada and Ghana.

Norway and Australia now lead the group with three points after opening wins against Canada and Ghana respectively.

The China squad is currently second in its group behind rival Brazil on goal differences.

Brazil beat an outgunned New Zealand 5-0 earlier on Wednesday.

"The first match was a very important match," Domanski-Lyfors said.

"There were 50,000 in the crowd and it was important to try to play very good football and we did it. And I am very happy with the win of course.

"Denmark is a very good team, so it was a close match. We have to come up from two-two and scored the winning goal. We did a good job in defense. Players stood in their position throughout the match. We also kept pressure on them in the midfield and fought for every ball."

China looked to surrender two points after Denmark fought back from two goals down to equalize before the home side secured a hard-earned 3-2 victory thanks to a wonderful late winner from Song Xiaoli.

The coach was pleased her charges could overcome tremendous pressure to hold out and prevail after leading for most of the match.

"I am glad to see them mentally strong on the field. It is very important to keep it in the match against Brazil," she said.

Captain Li Jie, who scored a brilliantly curving free kick in the 31st minute before she was carried off on a stretcher near the end of the match, is convinced her side can beat higher-ranked Brazil.

"We have showed we are not easy to beat. We are on home soil and everyone of us has the confidence to beat them," said the central defender, who will return in the second match according to the team's medicos.

But it was the duo of Dalian strikers Ma Xiaoxu and Han Duan whose front-line attacking prowess helped the hosts to victory.

"My understanding with Ma Xiaoxu is getting better with every match and I hope it'll keep improving," Han said. "I couldn't be happier with the result because it was a must-win match. It was a real slog, but winning has really lifted us. It was a real blow when they equalized but we kept plugging away."

Ma, voted the player of the match, said she was still short of her best form.

"I am not satisfied with my own performance, but the whole team did very good job," she said.

"Everyone made mistakes. I will try to improve match by match and play my best game as soon as possible."

Former head coach Ma Yuan'an, who led the team to 1996 Olympic silver and 1999 World Cup final, also believes China can advance to the next round.

"The first win practically means a second-round spot," he said. I believe they will play even better in the following matches. Against Brazil, China also has the chance to win as long as we do not make mistakes in defense."

But Denmark's ungracious coach remains unconvinced by China's prospects and rates Brazil the favorite.

"I think the best team came second today," said a dejected Kenneth Heiner-Moller, who refused to shake hands with his counterpart after the match. "We respect China and it was a great team and has very good skilled individuals.

"I am still quite confident Brazil is the top favorite of the group. We will still do everything to qualify into the next round. China was conservative and used long passes and fought for ball up in the front. We succeeded on our tactics and skills. But unfortunately we lost the match."

However Brazilian coach Jorge Barcellos is cautious ahead of the showdown, asking his players to put their 5-0 drubbing of the Kiwis out of their minds.

"China is a very strong team," he said.

"We have to better prepare for it. There are two days before the match. We will take one day rest and another day for tune up.

"It will be a tough match and we have to take it seriously.

"China and New Zealand are two different teams and play different soccer. 5-0 is a very good beginning and we have to play better match by match."

Although Brazil's Marta, the 2006 FIFA Women's Player of the Year, scored a double in the opening game, her coach said she was yet to find her best form.

"She was limited by the defenders of our rivals in the first half," Barcellos said. But she played very well in the second. She ran a lot and created more space for herself and teammates.

"Other players have to appear and shine when Marta is defended tightly. I am expecting other players to come out. Brazil team is not a Marta team. We will play better teamwork."

(China Daily 09/14/2007 page22)