Key events
Back underway! China 0- 0 Haiti
Let’s go again! Both sides are yet to score a goal in this World Cup. As Karen Carney says in the ITV studio, we need to see “ruthless not toothless”.
By the way, you can read Karen’s latest blog for the Guardian here.
Half-time! China 0-0 Haiti
That’s the half-time whistle and the big news of a 45 minutes that lacked chances is the red card for Zhang Rui which has left China down to 10 and their hopes hanging by a thread. Time for a quick cuppa.
45 + 2 min: Haiti are being a little sloppy here as the half comes to a close. China quicker to the ball. Can they keep that up though?
45 min: We’re into first-half injury time. Just three minutes which seems a bit low given the red-card stoppage and a few injuries.
44 min: That was a big scare for China and perhaps a portent of what’s to come as they battle on with just 10 players. A bit more care and that would have been Haiti in front.
Haiti goal ruled out!
42 min: GOAL FOR HAITI!!! No, it won’t count. A pass comes off the referee’s back which could have caused the strike to be ruled out. But instead it’s a straightforward offside on Mondesir. Haiti’s No. 10 tucks the ball away nicely but is clearly in an offside position when she goes through.
42 min: China try to break but they’re a player down and lack the numbers.
40 min: And while there’s a Dumornay-shaped hole in the Haiti XI, why are China not turning to their best attacking threat: Wang Shuang? Perhaps it’s all pointing to a dramatic finish. Not much excitement in the first half it has to be said, bar the red card obvs.
39 min: Haiti try a long ball out of defence but it comes to nothing. They really are missing Dumornay’s craft and dribbling skills. Could she come on at half-time?
37 min: Here’s the change. Lou is replaced by Xin Zhang, who started the first game.
35 min: Lots of activity on the China bench as they prepare to reshuffle in response to going down to 10.
34 min: The door is open here for Haiti. Denmark, their final group opponents, haven’t pulled up any trees so far and a win by two goals here would leave Haiti just needing a draw against the Danes to go through to the knockout phase. Email in if I’ve got my permutations wrong!
32 min: Haiti have a free-kick down the right which Zhu flaps away slightly unconvincingly. It’s recycled and Zhu scoops up the low shot.
31 min: Well, this surely changes things. China were the dominant team but are now a player short. Looks like they’ll go 4-4-1.
Red card – China down to 10!
30 min: That’s a bad tackle from Rui Zhang as she scrapes her studs down Jeudy’s leg. Looks worse the more you see it. The referee takes a look on the monitor and announces that the initial yellow card has been changed to a red. Hard to argue with that.
28 min: Every so often we get a shot of a frustrated Melchie Dumornay on the bench. When will Haiti bring her on. Just how fit is she?
27 min: Decent atmosphere in the ground. Some loud drums banging away along with screams and shouts of excitement when either team (well, China) attack.
25 min: China still causing the main moments of danger but, as against Denmark, they don’t have much cutting edge. And, let’s be honest, Haiti’s defence isn’t easy to breach as England found out.
23 min: All three Group D games so far have ended 1-0. Will that pattern continue here? China have a free-kick 30 yards out which Zhang Rui thumps towards goal but it’s watched wide by Theus. That was ambitious.
22 min: A moment of panic in the Haiti defence as Tabitha Joseph’s underhit backpass forces goalkeeper Theus to dash out and clear for a corner. In it comes and Wang Shanshan, up from centre-back, nods wide.
19 min: The free-kick is floated into the China box but headed clear by Yao Lingwei. Nothing to see there.
18 min: A crunching tackle in midfield ends with Rui Zhang in a heap. But Haiti get the free-kick for some reason. China’s players look confused.
16 min: First real attempt on goal and it comes from China. Li Mengwen crosses from the right and Lou’s acrobatic hooked effort is saved somewhat casually by Theus as the ball bounces up off the turf.
15 min: Still a bit scrappy. China trying to press high and, with some success, but they aren’t able to do anything with the possession just won.
13 min: Haiti find space down the left but Sherly Jeudy’s cross lacks direction. Both teams looking disciplined in defence and hard to break down.
10 min: China trying too many long balls here. The Haiti defence are tall, strong and easily able to deal with them. A cross comes in from the left but Haiti goalkeeper Kerly Theus deals with it. Then Lou Jiahui charges down a clearance and bursts to the byline but her cross lacks pace and Theus is on hand again.
8 min: China win corner and play it short. It all gets a bit disjointed and the best they can manage is a rushed shot on the edge of the box that’s charged down.
7 min: Little happening so far, certainly in an attacking sense. It’s certainly not helping that Haiti’s best player, Melchie Dumornay, is only on the bench due to a muscle injury while China’s Wang Shang is also not starting for reasons unknown given how lively she looked against Denmark.
5 min: Looks like we’re already settling down into a pattern. China having possession; Haiti trying to soak it up and hit on the break.
3 min: Throw-in to Haiti down the right. It’s flicked on into the area but rolls out harmlessly for a goalkick.
2 min: China are way above Haiti in the world rankings and are favourites to win this. They’re enjoying the early possession. Haiti had only 25% against England but looked dangerous on the break.
Kick-off! China 0-0 Haiti
Here we go! The stadium DJ nods to China’s nickname (‘Steel Roses’) by playing some Stone Roses and Steely Dan. Not really. It’s a dance number that I don’t know much about I’m afraid.
The teams are coming out and the big question is what colours are they wearing? There’s an awful lot of red in Group D: Denmark, China and Haiti all have it as their first-choice kit. China had to play in their yellow second strip against Denmark but they’ve got the red shirts today. Haiti switch to white.
China’s women’s team are know as the Steel Roses. The name was given to them by their fans after they lost the 1999 final to the USA. I like it. Blog writer Sara Lynn Hua says: “By calling the Chinese women’s team this, they are suggesting that both traditionally masculine and feminine traits come together to form perfect harmony in the soccer team members.”
China v Haiti is live on ITV1. That’s good, isn’t it. I mean, a shame for Loose Women fans but this will be far more entertaining.
Who to look out for today? How about China’s Wang Shuang. This is from our team guide.
“As it was four years ago, Wang Shuang is China’s standout performer. The 28-year-old, who can play as an attacking midfielder or a second striker, remains a pre-eminent virtuoso. As the most skilful player in Chinese women’s football, Wang is the source of creativity and was the only highlight of China’s disappointing Tokyo Olympics.”
Group D permutations. If Haiti avoid defeat, England are definitely through to the last 16. China are out if they lose.
England have made it six points out of six after a rather nervy 1-0 win over Denmark. The Danes hit the woodwork late on but Lauren James’ excellent early strike proved enough.
Team news
Here are the two teams…
China: Yu Zhu, Mengwen Li, Wei Yao, Shanshan Wang, Qiaozhu Chen, Rui Zhang, Lina Yang, Lingwei Yao, Linyan Zhang, Jiahui Lou, Chengshu Wu.
cHuan Xu, Jiaxing Dou, Linlin Wang, Haiyan Wu, Xin Zhang, Shuang Wang, Mengyu Shen, Jiali Tang, Yuyi Xiao, Yasha Gu, Chen Gao, Hongyan Pan.
Haiti: Kerly Theus, Tabita Joseph, Betina Petit-Frere, Kethna Louis, Ruthny Mathurin, Maudeline Moryl, Sherly Jeudy, Dayana Pierre-Louis, Batcheba Louis, Nerilia Mondesir, Roselord Borgella.
Subs: Nahomie Ambroise, Chelsea Surpris, Melchie Dumornay, Danielle Etienne, Roseline Eloissaint, Esthericove Joseph, Darlina Joseph, Milan Pierre-Jerome, Shwendesky Joseph, Noa Ganthier, Lara-Sofia Larco.
Oh no, the player I really wanted to watch today, the brilliant Melchie Dumornay, has a muscle injury so doesn’t start. She’s on the bench at least.
Fancy some background on the two sides, check out our team guides.
If you’ve landed here and want to check in on the England v Denmark game, Sarah Rendell is live blogging as we speak. Still 1-0 to England with just over 15 minutes to go.
Preamble
Hello! And welcome to the other game in England’s group today. Both China and Haiti can consider themselves unfortunate to have emerged with nothing from their opening games. Haiti gave England a scare and were only defeated by a twice-taken Georgia Stanway penalty. China created several good chances against Denmark but were undone by a last-minute header from Amalie Vangsgaard that bounced awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Xu Huan.
Not surprisingly, this is the first ever meeting between the teams which adds another layer of intrigue. Which way will it go? Let’s head to the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide to find out!