FIFA Women's World Cup host China fought hard to beat underdogs New Zealand 2-0, roaring into the quarter-finals on Thursday night, following Group D leader Brazil who edged Denmark 1-0 simultaneously to earn nine points from three matches.

Denmark, who lost 3-2 to China but beat New Zealand 2-0, had to pack home, so did the Kiwis who lost all their three group matches without scoring a goal and conceding nine.

China have won all the seven encounters with New Zealand up to now.

In the breath-taking China-New Zealand game tonight, Chinese defender Li Jie broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a brilliant backward slip header in the box.

Midfielder Xie Caixia sealed the crucial win for China on 79 minutes when she earned a clear run into the box, danced past the last defender and scored on a flash low shot.

China's Han Duan (Front) vies with a player of New Zealand during the last round match of Group D at the FIFA 2007 Women's Football World Cup in Tianjin, a coastal city in north China on Sept. 20, 2007. China won the match 2-0. (Xinhua Photo)

China's Ma Xiaoxu (2nd R) vies with players of New Zealand during the last round match of Group D at the FIFA 2007 Women's Football World Cup in Tianjin, a coastal city in north China on Sept. 20, 2007. China won the match 2-0. (Xinhua Photo)

The stalwart Chinese girls laid a siege on the Kiwis from the very beginning of their do-or-die match, making 22 shots (13 on target) against six (three on target) for the Kiwis, who also played in a tough manner.

China coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors fielded a 4-3-3 formation of the starters, which was not often used for the team.

Veteran striker Zhang Ouying opened fire for China only one minute into the game. Zhang, 32, who had not been a starter in the previous two matches, also made a wonderful bicycle kick in the 74th minute, which was headed out by a Kiwis defender.

In the 15th minute, Zhang earned a solo run but her shot in the box was blocked by goalkeeper Jenny Bindon. China's quick-pace striker Han Duan secured the ball, thrusting into the box again but her low shot to open goal went wide.

On 25 minutes, another striker Ma Xiaoxu secured a ball in the box, dribbling past two defenders, but her small-angle shot was tapped out by Bindon.

In the 54th minute, Chinese midfielder Pan Lina 's powerful header in the box was saved by Bindon.

Ma Xiaoxu's powerful volley in the 77th minute hit the crossbar.

Despite creating only a few scoring chances, New Zealand's defender Abby Erceg almost tied the score to 1-1 in the 62nd minute with a close-range tap, but the ball went high.

Substitute Zoe Thompson took use of an fatal error by Li Jie on65 minutes to earn a solo run. But her tip-toe shot mysteriously went wide.

China will take on Group C leader Norway in the quarter-finals in Wuhan on Sept. 23.  

Editor: Donald