Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
The teenage midfielder Giulia Gwinn scored a second-half winner as Germany, a two-time champion, opened its Women’s World Cup campaign by beating a rugged China, 1-0, on Saturday in Rennes, France.
Gwinn’s powerful 66th-minute shot from the edge of the penalty area flew through the legs of a jumping Chinese defender into the left corner of the net. The ball fell to her after China failed to properly clear a corner floated in from the right.
In an even first half at Roazhon Park, Germany defender Carolin Simon hit the crossbar and China striker Yang Li hit the post.