PERTH — Substitute Amalie Vangsgaard headed home a goal in the 90th minute to give Denmark a winning start to their first Women's World Cup campaign since 2007 with a 1-0 victory against China at Perth Oval on Saturday.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who was brought on five minutes earlier, found the back of the net with a long-range header from a Pernille Harder corner to break the deadlock.
Denmark goal vs China Women's World Cup
LATE DRAMA
AMALIE VANGSGAARD SCORES DENMARK'S FIRST GOAL OF THE 2023 FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IN DRAMATIC FASHION! pic.twitter.com/AIcY7OQwYI— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023
What a way to score your first international goal pic.twitter.com/ENIJ6nLJV9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023
"I have waited a long time for the first national team goal, but I have saved it for the best time," Vangsgaard said.
"Right now it's pretty surreal."
Harder, playing her first World Cup, was a prominent forward presence for the Danes, who controlled possession but found it difficult to carve out clear chances.
The first genuine scoring opportunity from either side in a scrappy contest came in the 52nd minute when Denmark's Josefine Hasbo failed to keep a header down in front of an open goal, giving China an almighty reprieve.
Just a little too high from Denmark's Josefine Hasbo pic.twitter.com/oKWQdIEFaT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 22, 2023
The reigning Asian champions played with a greater sense of urgency after bringing on forward Wang Shuang but came close to conceding an own goal in the 76th minute when a clearing header from skipper Wang Shanshan whistled past the post.
"We realised that we have some issues, but overall the strategy was fine and we'll improve ourselves in the future", China coach Shui Qingxia said.
England, who earlier beat Haiti 1-0 in Brisbane, are now joined by the Danes at the top of Group D. Denmark's next match comes against the European champions in Sydney on Friday after China face off with Haiti in Adelaide.
(Reporting by Joel Dubber in Perth; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Hugh Lawson)
