In tonight's duel, Chinese playmaker Zhang Rui sliced the rivals' defending line on the right and curled in a perfect cross which found Li Ying who came up to a cool finish, beating South African captain Janine van Wyk to the ball to prod past a stranded keeper Kaylin Swart in the 40th minute.

The 26-year-old Li, a World Cup debutant, was selected as Visa Player of the Match.

Li said, "It doesn't matter if I score, the most important thing is winning as a team."

The first goal of China in France emerged in their domination from the very beginning.