Four teams have secured their positions in the top eight after six games in the second round of the women's soccer tournament at the 10th National Games in Jiangsu Province yesterday.
Sichuan, Beijing, Liaoning and Shanghai each scored victories to take the quarterfinal berths.
Shanghai, which had dominant position over Guangdong in a meeting in Group C, thrashed the latter 5-0 and also had a position in the quarterfinal. Forward Ji Ting scored twice. Zhang Ying, Pu Wei, Zhang Zheng each had a successful shot.
Sichuan beat Hebei 4-3 in a dramatic penalty kick after regular time, securing a place in the next round.
The two teams in Group A tied 0-0 in 90 minutes and went for shootouts according to a new rule specially set for the National Games, which don't allows a tie in group matches.
Sichuan's goalkeeper Xiao Zhen, also goalkeeper of Chinese National Team, played a heroic role for her team, successfully holding back three shots from the rivals.
Hebei was also well prepared for the possible penalty kick.
Substitute goalkeeper Jin Yan, who has had special training in penalty kicks, was fielded in the 86 minute and also resisted two goals.
Sichuan achieved two victories in the group after yesterday's match and advanced to the top eight.
In a close contest between two other teams in the same group, the Chinese Army suffered the second defeat, losing to Hubei 2-1. Yao Yukun scored for the army team at 37 minutes but was equalized by Hubei's Fang Yan in the 58th minute. Liu Sisi added another goal in the 62nd minute for Hubei.
(Xinhua)