Xu Xiaotang (right)
Xu Xiaotang’s second half brace steered China to a 3-0 win against Kenya in their opening FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco Group E tie on Monday.
Australia and Chile battled to a hard-fought draw in their Group F opener.
Xu Yue had given Ma Xiaoxu’s side the lead in the first half before Xiaotang scored twice in four second-half minutes to seal China PR’s victory, with Samoa next up for them on Thursday.
Xu Yue opened the scoring in the 12th minute, racing on to an inch-perfect Fang Zhenzhu pass and slotting into the bottom right corner.
Fang was at the heart of China PR’s next good chance, once again sliding a terrifically inventive ball through for Wu Yichen, who side-stepped two Kenyan advancers but was denied by a fine Mishel Okoyo save.
Kenya had held on valiantly in the first half but were carved open quickly after the restart.
Fang was once again central to the move, rifling a terrific long-range effort which Okoyo did well to tip on to the bar, but she couldn’t prevent Xiaotang from tapping in the rebound in the 50th minute.
That pair combined again in the 53rd minute with Fang teeing up an inviting cross for Xiaotang to nod in from beneath the crossbar.
Australia holds Chile
Charlotte Bradshaw’s second-half equaliser cancelled out Kiara Concha’s opener as the Junior Matildas secured a share of the points.
It was an even start between the sides, with Australia producing the first clear chance only for Chile goalkeeper Oriana Cristancho to make a superb reaction save.
Chile broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Josefa Munita delivered a curling cross for Concha to head home at the back post.
Australia pushed for an equaliser after the restart and were rewarded in the 63rd minute following a set-piece, with Sakura Leon sending a low cross towards the back post for Bradshaw to finish.
Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages but neither could find a breakthrough as they settled for a point apiece.
RESULTS
China beat Kenya 3-0
Australia drew Chile 1-1
Spain beat Mexico 2-0
USA beat Samoa 17-0
