A last-minute winner from substitute Amalie Vangsgaard earned Denmark a 1-0 win over China at Perth's HBF Park on 22 July, as 16,989 fans watched a FIFA Women's World Cup Finals encounter which rarely rose above the mundane quality-wise. "The Steel Roses", in their eye-catching all-yellow kit, were first to threaten, Chen Qiaozhu pouncing on a stray pass before lashing a twenty-yarder over the bar in the sixth minute, before Zhang Linyan charged past three opponents sixty seconds later and fired a twenty-yard drive which Lene Christensen smothered soundly. Incredibly, these were the only two opportunities to materialise in the first forty minutes - that's how scrappy this contest was, one which abounded in perspiration, but which sorely lacked in inspiration. There were two more chances before half-time, with Stine Ballisager stepping in to prevent Zhang capitalising on a Wang Shanshan free-kick, while Denmark's first threat of note saw Pernille Harder's dash down the left curtailed by the covering run of Yao Wei. The second half could only be better - the first half was instantly forgettable, to be blunt! - and it took just four minutes for the first save to be made, Christensen keeping out a shot from half-time substitute Wang Shuang. The Danes instantly counter-attacked, Josefine Hasbo being denied by Zhang Rui's timely block. Sixty seconds later, Hasbo was guilty of a glaring miss, heading over an open goal from the heart of the goalmouth after Nicoline Sorensen had scampered down the left before crossing from the by-line, her delivery finding goalkeeper Xu Huan wanting. Just shy of the hour mark, Chen's vital headed clearance prevented Harder from heading home another Sorensen cross, to which China responded via another Wang effort, this one a wayward attempt from twenty-five yards as the game descended to the depths which had dominated the dour first half. Fifteen minutes from time, Katrine Veje looked like she would be the difference between the sides, her crosses creating consternation in the Chinese rearguard. Her free-kick saw Simone Boye just

inches away from heading home as Wang Shanshan headed the ball across the face of her own goal and just past the far post. Seconds later, Veje delivered quality again, this time picking out substitute Signe Bruun, who headed the ball inside for Rikke Marie Madsen, only for Xu to pluck it off her head and avert the danger. The outstanding Ballisager - she was immaculate in defence for Denmark - thwarted another Chinese raid ten minutes from time, after Yang Lina, Wang Shuang and Chen had combined to good effect. Zhang Linyan was the intended beneficiary of their endeavours, but the Danish defender had other ideas. The ball was cleared downfield by Rikke Sevecke, and flicked on by Bruun for Harder's benefit. Yao Wei blocked her shot, then blocked that of Bruun two minutes later, Madsen's left flank raid having created the opportunity for her fellow substitute. Denmark made their final substitution four minutes from time, and her impact was near-instant. Vangsgaard, at 6'1, towered over her Chinese opponents, and when Harder fired in an 89th minute corner, she made that height advantage count, sending a fifteen yard header flying beyond Xu to break the deadlock at long last. China desperately sought a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time, and came within inches of realising their objective. Wang Shuang fired a free-kick into the danger zone, with Christensen being put off by the presence of Yang, off whom the ball ricocheted onto the post. Boye hooked the ball off the line in front of Wang Shanshan before the offside flag was raised against Yang, a late signal which effectively ended China's hopes of getting something from a match which won't live long in the memory of those who watched it. Denmark:     Christensen; Sevecke (booked, 40), Ballisager, Boye, Veje; Hasbo, Holmgaard, Kuhl (Bruun, 62); Thomsen (Vangsgaard, 85), Harder, Sorensen (Madsen, 72) China:          Xu; Li (Gao, 85), Wu (Gu, 90), Yao, Chen; Zhang Xin (Wang Shuang, 46), Yang, Zhang Rui, Zhang Linyan; Lou (Shen, 78), Wang Shanshan Referee:     Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (Canada)