She also noted that China had whitewashed Norway 5-0 in the 1999 World Cup semifinals.

"We are aiming the top four on home soil, and we are in top eight now, which has already been better than our FIFA ranking on 11th," she said.

New Zealand coach John Herdman said, "The high spirit helped the Chinese team win today."

"We have many young players aged between 16 and 18 and we don't have as many talented players as China," Herdman added.

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 rarely used before.

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.

China, who collected the same three points as Denmark but stood third in the group for a four-goal difference with the Danes, planned to earn a big-margin win over the Kiwis but they squandered too many chances in the lopsided game.

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.

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