Date: Saturday 8thJune 2019
Venue: Roazhon Park, Rennes
Guilia Gwinn’s goal got two-time winners Germany off to a winning start in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup versus China.
Germany were left frustrated in the first half after they applied a lot of pressure on China, however the Chinese defence proved to be difficult to break down.
China’s Yang Li squandered two massive chances after pouncing on two German errors at the back.
There were few chances in the second-half, but Germany’s Guilia Gwinn was the one that took her chance to claim the three points.
Germany had the first attempt of the match. In the third minute, Sara Däbritz tried her luck from just outside the penalty box with a low, driven strike, but she could only fire wide of the target.
Despite looking dangerous in the early stages, it was China who had the first clear cut chance in the 14thminute. A poor cross-field pass from Sara Doorsoun allowed Gu Yasha to break and lay it off to Yang Li, but the Freiburg defender was able to recover from her error with a last ditch block.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side came extremely close to taking the lead just minutes after, courtesy of an intended cross from Carolin Simon clipping the crossbar.
Germany captain Alexandra Popp and Svenja Hut also had chances in the first 45 minutes, but on both occasions their efforts were too high to trouble Peng Shimeng.
On the stroke of half-time Yang Li struck the woodwork after she bent her shot around Almuth Schult from the edge of the area.
China’s missed opportunities came back to haunt them in the 66thminute when Giulia Gwinn smashed home for Germany from just outside the box to beat Shimeng comfortably.
Gwinn could have added to her tally after she fired a left footed strike from the corner of the box, but it was gathered by the keeper at the second time of asking.
China applied a lot of pressure on the German defence in the closing stages, but they were unable to find what would have been a well-deserved equaliser.
Germany: Almuth Schult, Kathrin Hendrich, Marina Hegering, Carolin Simon (Lena Oberdorf 45’), Svenja Huth (Lea Schueller 85’), Dzsenifer Maroszan, Alexandra Popp (C), Sara Daebritz, Giulia Gwinn, Melanie Leupolz (Lina Magull 63’), Sara Doorsoun
China: Peng Shimeng, Liu Shanshan, Lin Yuping, Lou Jiahui (Tan Ruyin 33’), Wu Haiyan (C), Han Peng, Yang Li (Song Duan 69’), Wang Shanshan, Gu Yasha, Zhang Rui, Yao Wei (Wang Shuang 46’)
