The Canadians, deprived of number-one goalkeeper Stacey Van Boxmeer in only the first minute, never quite found their rhythm as China march on to a semi-final date with Brazil at the Supachalasai Stadium on 24 November.

The match started with a ringing volley of incident as Chinese midfielder Lou Xiaoxu rounded Van Boxmeer and went to ground in a heap. Though there appeared to be minimal - if any - contact, referee Anna De Toni of Italy did not hesitate pointing to the spot and brandishing red for the Canuck keeper.

Zhang Ying coolly put her spot kick past still-cold stand-in Stephanie Labbe to see China into the lead…and all this in within three minutes. It was the fastest sending off in FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship history.

The Canadians, renowned for their fighting spirit, appeared profoundly deflated by the early setback. And their significant woes were doubled when Zhang's free kick snuck inside Labbe's far post to increase the lead.

In the second half, the Canadians though, did not take long in using their smashing ability from distance to force their way onto the scoreboard. Fiery skipper Kara Lang hammered in a free kick from the centre circle that keeper Zhang Yanru simply could not hang onto. And the rampant Timko was there on the doorstep to poke home for her seventh goal of the finals - best overall.

The celebrations did not last though, as only two minutes later, a miscue from Labbe allowed Liu Sa in to poke 'cool-as-you-like' into an empty Canadian net.

In the end, the scoreline stood as the favourites and finalists from Canada 2002 littered the pitch in wounded, rueful despair following the final whistle.

China - who must consider themselves fortunate to have such an easy time - will now take on Brazil in a rematch of their final Group B clash at the Supachalasai. Brazil won the first meeting 2-1 on 16 November.