Women’s World Cup: Draw enough to send China and Spain through

The good news: Despite no goals and having to split points following its 0-0 draw in Le Havre, the result was enough to send both teams through to the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup.

The bad news for Spain; despite a flurry of chances, they were unable to find the back net against China on Monday.

Spain though were aggressive throughout the match in looking to get the three points. Spain’s first scoring chance came in the eighth minute, as Mariona Caldentey sent the ball into the penalty area and Lucia Garcia came in and aimed the ball for the far post area, but the ball went wide.

Spain continued to keep the chances coming. Hermoso had two good looks at goal, the first coming in the 10th minute, as she brought the ball down in the penalty area and fired for goal, but the shot deflected off a teammate and went over the end line.

Hermoso’s second chance in the first half came in the 39th minute, as she headed a cross for the near post, but keeper Peng Shimeng dived to her left and stopped the ball from going over the line.

Spain kept up the pressure in the second half. Patricia Guijarro took a shot from 20-yards out in the 60th minute, Shimeng stretched to her right and was able to parry the ball away from goal. The ball headed towards the touchline, but Garcia got to the ball to keep the play alive. However, her back pass was intercepted by Lin Yuping, who quickly cleared the ball out of the penalty area.

Another chance for Spain came in the 85th minute, as Guijarro played Hermoso into the penalty area, Hermoso shot high for the near post, but Shimeng reached out her left hand and parried the ball over the end-line.

Despite a flurry of chances for Spain, China managed to stand firm and salvaged a draw. Both will now enter the crunch end of the tournament, in the knockout stages.