Denmark vs China score, result, highlights from 2023 Women's World Cup as Amalie Vangsgaard heads late winner

Ben Miller

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Denmark vs China score, result, highlights from 2023 Women's World Cup as Amalie Vangsgaard heads late winner image

Denmark scored with their only attempt on target to win on their first Women's World Cup appearance since 2007 as substitute Amalie Vangsgaard's 89th-minute header sent Lars Sondergaard's side level with England at the top of Group D.

Vangsgaard placed a powerful header from Pernille Harder's corner beyond goalkeeper Xu Huan as her country recorded their first ever win over China at the finals, deciding a game in which both teams lacked incision but showed their credentials to qualify from a tight-looking group.

The Lionesses' 1-0 victory over competition debutants Haiti earlier on Saturday means their meeting with Denmark in the second round of group games provides the potential for both nations to qualify for the knockout stage.

Appearing at their third successive edition of the finals, China had the better of the first half, causing Denmark problems on the flanks while keeping their opponents from producing a single meaningful attempt despite the presence of two-time UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Harder in attack.

In a sign of her belief that the game was China's to win, manager Shui Qingxia sent on one of the Asian champions' most prolific and experienced players at the break in the form of ex-Paris St-Germain star Wang Shuang.

The attacker for National Women's Soccer League side Racing Louisville immediately threatened but suffered from the same inaccuracy from good positions as several of her team-mates.

Josefine Hasbo headed over for the European nation when presented with an open goal but her miss was redeemed during a period of late dominance for Denmark, Vangsgaard finding the winner four minutes after coming on, confirmed by a VAR check.

China appealed for an equaliser in added time when Shuang's vicious freekick struck a post and appeared to be cleared off the line just in time by Simone Boye, but the move was correctly deemed offside as they sustained their first defeat in four encounters with Denmark on this stage.

The Red and White's fixture with England takes place in Sydney on Friday, while China play Haiti in Hindmarsh later on the same day.

Late Danes grab points

This was Denmark's latest goal at the finals since their last appearance 16 years ago, when they scored against China in the 87th minute as part of a 3-2 defeat.

Keeping a clean sheet looked vital - they have lost 10 and drawn one of their World Cup matches when they have conceded - and the Steel Roses helped their cause by repeatedly shooting well wide of Lene Christensen's goal when promisingly placed.

Incoming Bayern Munich signing Harder struggled to find time on the ball, seeing a shot from distance blocked by the attentive Chen Qiaozhu, who had earlier intervened brilliantly to head a Nicoline Sorensen delivery behind with Harder lurking in wait.

MORE: England beat Haiti in Women's World Cup opener

The 13th and 14th-ranked countries in the world might have been expected to produce a close contest, but both teams may also feel they could have won comfortably had they made the most of their possession during a game that became increasingly open after halftime.

With a dangerous-looking Haiti and European champions England to come, China need to improve at both ends if they are to continue their run of reaching the knockout stage on all seven occasions when they have qualified.

Vangsgaard's effort was a well-taken first headed goal of the 2023 tournament, but it was also the fifth of the eight China have conceded at the World Cup since 2015 to come from a set-piece – and the third from a corner.

Qingxia will be concerned at their run of almost six hours without a goal at the finals, drawing blanks in all but one of their last six matches, including four defeats.

Denmark would have considered these opponents their main rivals to join group favourites England in advancing. A positive result on Friday would make their memorable end to this uninspired match even more valuable.

The Sporting News followed the action live and provided updates and highlights from the game.

MORE: Complete World Cup schedule

Denmark vs China result

  1st Half 2nd Half Result Goalscorers
Denmark 0 1 1 Amalie Vangsgaard (89)
China 0 0 0 —

Starting lineups:

Denmark (formation right to left): Christensen (GK) – Veje, Boye, Ballisager, Sevecke – Kuhl, Holmgaard, Hasbo – Sorensen, Harder, Thomsen

China (formation, right to left): Huan (GK) – Qiaozhu, Wei, Shanshan, Mengwen – Linyan, Lina, Rui, Xin – Jiahui, Chengshu

MORE: Women's World Cup schedule 2023: Fixtures, matches, dates, times

Denmark vs China updates, highlights from 2023 Women's World Cup

FULLTIME: Denmark 1-0 China

Denmark go joint top of Group D! It was far from a complete performance as the victors made their return to the finals for the first time since 2007, but their celebrations on the pitch show how much that 89th-minute winner by their hero substitute meant.

China went close on a number of occasions, lacking accuracy but almost scoring in added time. They take on Haiti on Friday, when Denmark face England.

90 mins +5: Denmark 1-0 China

Drama at the (almost) death! Wang Shuang fires in a wicked, inswinging cross which comes off the near post and along the goal line in the air.

Simone Boye does excellently to stab the danger away. China appeal that the ball had crossed the line, but it's immaterial because sloppy positioning from at least two of their players means the move was offside.

90 mins +4: Denmark 1-0 China

China have a freekick in a useful position on the right.

90 mins +1: Denmark 1-0 China

There will be six minutes of added time.

89 mins: GOAL – Denmark 1-0 China (Amalie Vangsgaard)

But there will be a VAR check for interference...

Goal! Denmark take the lead as substitute Amalie Vangsgaard's header from a corner drifts past Xu Huan's dive at her right-hand post.

Denmark score with their first attempt on target of the game!

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87 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Denmark have had 11 attempts at goal but not one on target. At the other end, Zhang Linyan can't control a through ball, sending it behind.

85 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Paris St-Germain forward Amalie Vangsgaard comes on as Denmark push for a winner, knowing they've had China on the ropes for a sustained period.

An attack down the left fizzles out.

82 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Signe Bruun takes aim, drilling in a shot from just outside the penalty area. It's deflected behind, and Rikke Madsen can't hit the target after the ball falls to her.

80 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Pernille Harder is Denmark's most obvious candidate to score their first goal of the finals, and she finally gets on the ball in a dangerous area after Signe Bruun flicks a long ball into her path in a central position not far from the penalty area.

Chen Qiaozhu defends brilliantly, holding a sensible distance to check Harder's run and send her wide before blocking her attempted shot.

78 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

A pattern of the second half continues: Wang Shuang sends a shot wide for China. With a little - OK, a lot - more accuracy, either of these sides could have scored more than once today.

76 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

If you'll forgive the expected goals updates, Denmark's improved second-half showing appears to be proven by the stats: they're closing in on an expected goal, when they barely registered on the scale shortly before the break.

How they'd love a first victory over China on a fourth attempt at the finals.

73 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Extraordinarily risky - if ultimately effective - defending from China's Wang Shanshan. She heads a delivery back across the face of goal, flashing narrowly wide of a post and a Denmark foot.

70 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Zhang Rui curls a shot comfortably wide for China. It's been a more eventful half in terms of attempts, but we've not come a great deal nearer to a first goal.

67 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Stine Ballisager takes no chances with a China delivery inside the penalty area, sending a firm header behind. She then clears again from the resulting corner, and the ball rolls behind for a goal kick as China try to mount another attack.

65 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

If China sent on Wang Shuang because they thought she could make the breakthrough for them, it's paying off in terms of the substitute's attacking intent.

This time she cuts inside under very little pressure from Denmark and swings a shot well clear of the target from a central position outside the box.

63 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

The expected goals count is almost identical now, with both teams a shade under 0.4xG.

60 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Substitution time for Denmark: Kathrine Kuhl, who's covered 7.3km today, makes way for new Real Madrid signing Signe Bruun.

Can the 25-year-old striker give her country more of an attacking edge? They're still yet to have a shot on target.

57 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

China's Chen Qiaozhu does brilliantly to head a Nicoline Sorensen delivery towards the far post behind in the nick of time, beating Pernille Harder, who was lurking behind her, to the ball.

You suspect Harder may well have scored from there. She looks like she knows what a chance that would have been.

54 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Both goalkeepers have emerged from their penalty areas to clear in the last minute or so after either side attempted direct through balls.

Lene Christensen does well to launch the latter attack clear, but China are adjuged to have been offside.

51 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Better from Denmark: Pernille Harder is at the centre of an attack that wins them a corner, which evades everyone.

Nicoline Sorensen then loops in a dangerous cross from just outside the penalty area on the left, which takes a deflection and finds Josefine Hasbo with a largely empty goal to aim at. The midfielder can only head well over the target!

48 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Wang Shuang threatens again, showing excellent technique to drill a diagonal first-time shot in from outside the penalty area when the ball drops for her.

It's straight at Lene Christensen, who catches the ball cleanly.

46 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

China make the first change of the game, Wang Shuang coming on for Zhang Xin.

The attacker for National Women's Soccer League side Racing Louisville has an immediate effect, scampering on to a ball near the corner flag on the right and setting up an opportunity for her side.

After Denmark can't conclusively clear, Li Mengwen curls a shot well high of the far target from inside the penalty area on the right. Should have done better.

HALFTIME: Denmark 0-0 China

A quiet first half comes to a close with the anticipation in the air at another packed stadium not being matched by the action so far!

"From a tactical perspective, China are doing really, really well," Arsenal's Swedish boss Jonas Eidevall tells BBC Sport.

"They're really compact between the lines. The distance between their defensive, midfield and attacking lines is always about 20 metres.

"Every time Denmark play inside, there's constantly a China player putting pressure on them. They are picking the ball up for transitions.

"Denmark need to try to play the ball wide and around China, trying to move them. In football, you always have to cover something and give something away in another area."

43 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Mildly encouraging signs for Denmark in the context of a half in which they've attacked little from open play, working for an opening on the fringes of China's penalty area.

The ball is duly walloped clear, leaving Denmark still without an attempt on target.

41 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Pernille Harder does well to break free on the right with an incisive run, looping a cross into the middle of the penalty area. China clear.

39 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

China have an expected goals count of slightly more than 0.2 so far, while Denmark's is just 0.04.

37 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

China, in their yellow with red trim, are swarming when Denmark have the ball and stretching their opponents on the flanks at every opportunity, keeping the ball neatly.

34 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

"It's so tough being a goalkeeper nowadays," former England No.1 Rachel Brown-Finnis tells the BBC, reflecting on the fact that there has been a penalty in every match at these finals so far.

As she's speaking, China goalkeeper Xu Huan - in her light all-blue kit - scoops up a loose pass inside her penalty area.

31 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

28 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

A reminder that earlier in Group D, England relied on Georgia Stanway's first-half penalty to edge past Haiti in their group opener.

The competition debutants looked dangerous and unpredictable, providing more evidence that this will be a tightly-contested group.

25 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

This is Denmark's first appearance at the finals in four editions of the tournament. They played in all but one of the first five editions, reaching the quarterfinals in 1991 and 1995.

22 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Arsenal's Kathrine Kuhl has a sight of goal, attempting a volley from outside the penalty area that lands wide.

19 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

When Denmark have possession, they are finding themselves alertly and quickly pressed. They have a chance with a free-kick which is delivered into the penalty area, but China deal with the danger.

16 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

China continue to impress with their fluid passing, forcing three successive corners without capitalising on any of them.

13 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

No Asian team has recorded more wins (16) or scored more goals (53) than China at the finals. They've made the better start here.

10 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Zhang Linyan ends a run inside Denmark's half by shooting from the edge of the box. Christensen descends to claim confidently.

8 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Chen Qiaozhu sends a shot comfortably clear of the crossbar from distance for China.

5 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

And here's how China have lined up...

Huan (GK) – Qiaozhu, Wei, Shanshan, Mengwen – Linyan, Lina, Rui, Xin – Jiahui, Chengshu

3 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Both sides have looked lively in the opening minutes here in Perth, although they're yet to produce a shot on goal.

2 mins: Denmark 0-0 China

Here's how Denmark have started...

Christensen (GK) – Veje, Boye, Ballisager, Sevecke – Kuhl, Holmgaard, Hasbo – Sorensen, Harder, Thomsen

30 mins from kickoff: China are the team Denmark have faced most at the World Cup, but they haven't beaten these opponents in any of their three attempts.

The Asian side have won two of those games, with the other a draw. Both teams have scored in each of their matches against each other at the finals.

1 hr from kickoff: Don’t forget to follow our dedicated football channels on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest football updates, stats and analysis.

They’re your essential companions to the beautiful game.

1 hr 30 mins from kickoff: There's already some Group D action underway in Brisbane. England are 1-0 up at halftime against Haiti, who have done plenty to suggest they are more than mere group outsiders. Georgia Stanway needed two bites at the cherry but stuck away a penalty before the half-hour. 

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2 hours from kickoff: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage Denmark vs China in Group D at the Women's World Cup. We're all the way over in Western Australia for this game in Perth.

Denmark vs China lineups

Denmark set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with star striker Pernille Harder leading the line.

  • Denmark starting lineup (4-3-3): Christensen (GK) – Veje, Boye, Ballisager, Sevecke – Kuhl, Holmgaard, Hasbo – Sorensen, Harder, Thomsen

China looked to use their experience to their advantage, with a veteran of more than 100 caps, Zhang Rui, leading the way.

  • China starting lineup (4-4-2): Huan (GK) – Qiaozhu, Wei, Shanshan, Mengwen – Linyan, Lina, Rui, Xin – Jiahui, Chengshu

What time is Denmark vs China kickoff?

This crucial clash in Group D will be played on July 22 at 8:00 p.m. local time at Perth Rectangular Stadium

  • Date: Saturday, July 22
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. AWST (8:00 a.m. ET)

The match is being played in the western-most timezone of the tournament, giving it one of the latest kickoff times. Here's how that kickoff time translates into various timezones around the world:

Timezone Time
Australia (AEST) 10:00 p.m.
New Zealand (NZT) 12:00 a.m. (July 23)
USA (ET) 8:00 a.m.
UK (BST) 1:00 p.m.
Singapore (SGT) 8:00 p.m.
Malaysia (MYT) 8:00 p.m.
Hong Kong (HKT) 8:00 p.m.
India (IST) 5:30 p.m.

Denmark vs China live stream, TV 

Country Television Streaming
Australia Optus Sport Optus Sport website/app
New Zealand Sky Sports 1 Sky Sport NOW
USA Fox Sports, NBC Universo Fubo, Peacock, Universo NOW, Telemundo Deportes site/app, Fox Sports site/app
Canada TSN, RDS (French) TSN+, RDS Info (French)
UK ITV ITVX
Singapore Singtel Singtel TV GO, MeWatch
Hong Kong NOW Sports Prime NOW Sports Prime
Malaysia — FIFA Plus
India — —

Ben Miller

Ben Miller Photo

Ben Miller has been writing about sport for 25 years, following all levels of football as well as boxing, MMA, athletics and tennis. He’s seen five promotions, three relegations, one World Cup winner and home games in at least three different stadiums as a result of his lifelong devotion to Brighton & Hove Albion. His main aim each week is to cover at least one game or event that does not require a last-minute rewrite.