China into quarters as Cameroon odyssey ends

China PR survived a tough examination from Cameroon with a lone early strike from Wang Shanshan enough to end the journey for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ debutants.

Both teams played with high-tempo and intensity from the opening whistle in Edmonton with chances aplenty at either end, but it was the Chinese who remained resilient at the back to advance into the last-eight.

Cameroon opened where they left off in their famous 2-1 victory over Switzerland with Madeleine Ngono Mani firing over the crossbar inside 20 seconds.

However, it was China who scored on the 12-minute mark as a deep corner reached Li Dongna who found some space and centred to Wang Shanshan who adroitly volleyed home.

Cameroon’s best chance of the opening half was a free-kick from Gaelle Enganamouit which deflected from the wall into the path of Gabrielle Onguene who could only find the side-netting from a 45-degree angle.

The match continued in a similar vein after the break with China notably dangerous on the break with Wang springing the offside trap on several occasions but failing to convert.

The ever-dangerous Enganamouit powered a header wide, and almost immediately from another cross she looped a header onto the crossbar after outjumping Wang Fei.

Then substitute Ajara Nchout volleyed at the back post into the arms of Wang, who was well positioned and looked a solid last line of defence as always.

Credit: FIFA.com