BEIJING, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) — China’s women’s ice hockey team defeated Japan 2-1 in a penalty shootout to claim its second win in Group B at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Sunday.
Defending champion the United States won its third consecutive game after beating Switzerland 8-0 in Group A.
China offered waves of offense after the opening puck dropped, even with forward Zhang Mengying injured in the middle of the first period. But Akane Hosoyamada seized the opportunity to score at 18:02 on a powerplay, securing Japan’s 1-0 lead into the second period.
No more goals were scored until China’s Hu Baozhen equalized at the very beginning of the third period. The 1-1 deadlock ensued and saw the game head into the first overtime at Beijing 2022.
A dramatic moment arrived as a review was made after a China player moved the puck into the net with her body as she slipped, and the goal was ruled out.
During the penalty shootout, Japan failed to score, while Mi Le netted the winner to end the tightly contested match in China’s favor.
“For this game and the last, I think the key is that we trusted ourselves and fought hard,” China goalkeeper Zhou Jiaying said. “We want to play more and we will be ready for tomorrow.”
The U.S. team dominated in the first period for a 5-0 lead, and extended the lead to 7-0 in the second period, before scoring once more in the third period.
Seeded according to the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Rankings, the top five U.S., Canada, Finland, ROC and Switzerland teams play in Group A of the preliminary round. Group B consists of Japan, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and hosts China. The Group A teams and the top-three Group B teams will play in the quarterfinals.
China is scheduled on Monday to face its last opponent Sweden, who remains pointless in the preliminary round, and Denmark, also without a win, will play against the Czech Republic. ■
Hu Baozhen (bottom) of China scores during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Fang Xin (bottom) of China celebrates scoring during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes react during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes celebrate after the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Wang Yuting (L) of China competes during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes react during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Medical workers take care of Zhang Mengying (3rd R) of China during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes celebrate after the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Athletes compete during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
The referee (2nd L) climbs onto the fence during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes react during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Wang Yuting (L) of China competes during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Athletes compete during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes compete during the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes celebrate after the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Chinese athletes celebrate after the ice hockey women’s Group B match between China and Japan at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
Abbey Murphy (top) of the United States controls the puck during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Jesse Compher (L) of the United States vies with Alina Muller of Switzerland during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Hayley Scamurra (top) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Dani Cameranesi (L) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Lee Stecklein (C) of the United States vies with Sinja Leemann (L) of Switzerland during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Grace Zumwinkle (L) of the United States vies with Shannon Sigrist of Switzerland during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Abby Roque (L) of the United States vies with Sinja Leemann of Switzerland during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Abbey Murphy (top) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Abbey Murphy (L, bottom) of the United States and Alina Muller (R, bottom) of Switzerland fall down during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Atheles of the United States celebrate scoring during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Athletes of the United States react during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Sinja Leemann (L) of Switzerland competes during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Athletes of the United States react during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Athletes compete during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Cayla Barnes (2nd L) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Athletes of the United States cheer up prior to the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Athletes of the United States react during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Amanda Kessel (C) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
Athletes of the United States react during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Atheletes of the United States celebrate scoring during the ice hockey women’s preliminary round Group A match between Switzerland and the United States at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Hilary Knight (C) of the United States scores during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)
Amanda Kessel (C) of the United States competes during the ice hockey women’s Group A match between the United States and Switzerland at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 6, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)
