China advance past Kiwis as tempers flare

China battled to a 2-2 draw against New Zealand to advance to the last 16 as tempers flared in a fiery final Group A game at the Women's World Cup on Monday.

Chinese coach Hao Wei was sent to the stands late for hampering Ria Percival's bid to take a quick throw in and New Zealand boss Tony Readings refused to shake his hand after the game.

A point was good enough for the Chinese, runners-up in 1999, to advance to the knockout rounds but dumped New Zealand out of the tournament once again in the group stage.

New Zealand needed to win and score goals to advance for the first time on their fourth attempt after losing to the Netherlands 1-0 and a goalless draw against Canada.

"In a do-or-die game teams are going to push the boundaries that added to the drama today," said Readings.

"I have always got on very well with the Chinese coach, very well. He's a very good coach.

"He obviously got sent to the stands for stopping our player taking a quick throw in, it's something I don't agree with and I would never do that to an opposition player.

"But we'll meet again, we always play a lot against the Chinese and there's no problem at all.

"It's not a big deal for us. It's all part of the gamesmanship, teams hungry and desperate to win, but it's not something I would do."

- 'Maybe he overdid it' -

Rebekah Stott scored first for New Zealand from a corner after 28 minutes, and four minutes before the break Wang Lisi equalised from the penalty spot when Betsy Hassett was judged to have handled the ball in her own area.

China pulled ahead with 30 minutes left after captain Wu Hai-yan crossed for Wang Shan-shan to head in. But the advantage lasted only four minutes when Hannah Wilkinson equalised from an Amber Hearn cross to head past Wang Fei.

"Today's match was spectacular, it was a hard fought battle, both teams wanted so hard to win," said assistant China coach Chang Wei-wei who attended the post-match press conference in place of Hao.

"Our coach Hao Wei was just doing his job maybe he overdid it. We will pay more attention to it in the future.

"New Zealand's head coach did not shake hands with us. As coaches we have a strong desire to win the game, we have no problem at all I'm not concerned about this.

"Our players showed their passion and enthusiasm. We only needed a draw to progress to the next stage but we always play to win."

Hao could however be banned from the touchline for China's next game against the second-placed finisher from Group C -- Japan, Switzerland or Cameroon -- in Edmonton on Saturday.

"We always have plan B for different scenarios including when our head coach is sent off the field," said Chang.

"Sometimes we have assistant coaches directing matches and not the coach. It's how the players perform not the coach."

Canada finish top of Group A with five points from three games after their 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Monday.

China, who failed to qualify for the World Cup for first time in 2011, finish second on four points along with the Netherlands, but ahead on goal difference.

New Zealand's two points are their best finish in the tournament.
Source: AFP