Song bags late winner for China

Soccer Betting Lines

09/12/2007 - Wuhan, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Xialoi Song scored the game-winner in the 88th minute as hosts China opened its World Cup with an exciting win over Denmark, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Song's goal came less than a minute after Denmark scored in the 87th minute to tie the match at 2-2. Jie Li and Yan Bi scored China's first two goals.

Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen and Cathrine Paaske Sorensen scored for Denmark.

China pulled even with Brazil in Group D with three points, although it trails by four in goal differential. Brazil rolled to a 5-0 win on Wednesday over New Zealand.

China plays Brazil on Saturday in its second game of the group stage. Denmark will look to bounce back against New Zealand on Saturday.

The Chinese looked impressive in the first half of their tournament opener, creating numerous chances while Denmark struggled to mount any offense.

China had a couple chances off three consecutive corner kicks seven minutes into the match. Yan Bi and Caixia Xie alternated taking the kicks and swung balls toward the goal. Denmark goalie Heidi Johansen punched the first two chances wide before her side finally gathered the third kick.

The Chinese had a long blast by Xiaoxu Ma knocked down by Johansen in the 17th minute and she easily covered up the ball with no players even in the box.

China also had the next scoring chance in the 23rd minute when Duan Han raced into the box near the left end line and had her shot from a tough angle saved by Johansen.

Denmark threatened for the first time in the 27th minute when Maiken Pape just missed connecting with a cross in front of China goalie Wenxia Han.

China quickly regained control of the action and Bi set up the first goal when she stole a ball about 15 yards outside Denmark's box. She dribbled toward the goal and was fouled outside the area, setting up a free kick.

Bi stood over the attempt for a long time, lining up a left-footed shot, but it was Li who moved in and unleashed a blast into the upper right corner with her right foot in the 31st minute.

China's 1-0 lead almost disappeared minutes later when Pape's leaping header went just wide of the right post. Pape had a few more chances on headers in the half, but couldn't convert.

China countered Denmark's aerial assault with a header from Duan Han that went just inches wide of the right post for the last good chance in the first half.

After all the missed opportunities in the first half, China opened the second half by converting its first scoring chance. Bi's long blast didn't look good off her foot, but it deflected off Denmark captain Katrine Pedersen. The ball changed direction, fooling Johansen and sailing into the upper left corner of the net in the 50th minute.

Denmark wasn't down by two goals for long, though, as it answered in the 51st minute. Off a corner kick, Dot Eggers Nielsen ran unmarked to the ball at the far post and scored off a strong header.

Still facing the one-goal deficit 15 minutes later, Denmark turned to all-time leading scorer Merete Pedersen. Although she is nursing an injury, Pedersen came off the bench in the 75th minute when Denmark made two substitutes.

Although she wasn't directly involved in Denmark's tying goal in the 87th minute, Denmark's other sub assisted on the goal. Stine Dimun also came on with Merete Pedersen, and her cross was headed home by Paaske Sorensen.

Paaske Sorensen hit the ball well and it cleared the outstretched arms of the Chinese goalie and just under the crossbar.

But similar to when Denmark answered China's second goal, the Chinese bounced back to take the lead less than a minute later.

Off the restart, China pushed forward and Song chested down a pass and turned and blasted a shot from just outside the box. The well-placed shot sailed into the left side of the net, giving the hosts a dramatic win.

China improved to 8-1-3 all time against Denmark.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

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Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

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