China beat Finland 2-0 in their first game at the Four Nations Women's Soccer Tournament in Guangzhou, South China on Wednesday.

 

Central defender Li Jie broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when the China captain headed in midfielder Yu Weimin's right wing cross. Liu Yali added the second inside the box two minutes from the break.

 

The hosts found it unlucky as their two consecutive shots rattled the crossbar in the second half, and forward Han Duan's follow-up header were tipped over by keeper Tinja Riikka Korpela.

 

Finland created several chances from free kicks, but could not change the result.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)