China routed France 3-1 Thursday in the 23rd World Universiade women’s football match, scoring a historical victory by advancing into the final of an important international tournament.
The last time China played the final of the kind was in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
China had a flying start with midfielder Wang Yihang striking the opener in the 14th minute off a free-kick from the right side.
France scored an equalizer after 40-miniute unremitting efforts by Thiney Gaelane who found the net with a powerful long range shot.
Chinese women did not lose their morale when they lost their lead. Wang Yihang, who was just on her best form, sliced open the right flank to beat two French defenders and made a powerful right pass, forcing French defender Faustine Roux to tap the ball into their won net from a close range in 70th minute.
The Chinese eleven then tightened their defense for the reminder of the game after they regained the leading advantage. Midfielder Yan Lin helped the team seal the victory by lobbing an incredible goal from a range over 40 meters.
“This is a victory that strengthens the self-confidence, the spirit of the team”, Chinese coach Gao Rongming said in a post-match interview, expressing his appreciation to the players when they played their utmost and overcame the fatigue.
“We are really exhausted when having a match every two days”, Gao said, stressing that it is the strong desire to win that enabled the team to achieve such a victorious result.
China will meet Brazil on Saturday in the final, who crushed Japan 4-0 in the other semifinal. Brazil once beat China 1-0 in the group match.
In men’s football competition, Italy beat Brazil 2-0 and will see Japan, who nipped Morocco 2-0, in the final.