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China go through after 2-2 draw with New Zealand

Xinhua, June 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

A 2-2 draw with New Zealand was good enough for China to advance into the last 16 as they finished second in Group A at the Women's World Cup here on Monday.

China collected four points from one win, one draw and one loss in the group behind the group winners Canada, which have five points from one win and two draws.

After a 1-0 loss to Canada by conceding an injury-time penalty kick on the opener, China gathered up to beat the Netherlands and drew with New Zealand to qualify from one of the hardest groupings at the tournament.

New Zealand, which had only one point before the match, needed nothing but a win to stay in the competition as they pitched out an attacking 4-3-3 tactical for the do-or-die game.

Benefiting from their all-out determination, Rebekah Stott grabbed a precious chance on the 28th minute as she caught a through corner kick on the far end of the post and fired home from a small angel for New Zealand's early lead.

But Betsy Hassett was called a hand ball in the penalty area four minutes before the halftime. Wang Lisi scored the equalizer from the spot to tie it 1-1 before the break.

Defender Wang Shanshan scored an incredible driving header as she got a perfect contact from a pass from Wu Haiyan to put China in the driving seat after 60 minutes.

Hannah Wilkinson snapped China's hope to finish atop in the group only four minutes later when she volleyed home a deep pass from the right side.

Both teams had chances but both failed to score again.

Chinese head coach Hao Wei was ordered to go towards the end of the game as he blocked New Zealand player to throw in the ball.

Assistant coach Chang Weiwei said, "We didn't give up after 1-0 down. We tried to move the ball fast and find space behind their defenders. The players took a great step up through the three matches and we made it into the next round."

New Zealand's head coach Tony Readings criticized referee for the call of penalty.

"We needed a win to move on. My players worked very hard. I'm proud of them. We will come back next year." Endi