Winnipeg, Canada---China battled to a 2-2 draw against New Zealand to advance to the last 16 as tempers flared in a fiery final Group A game at the Women's World Cup on Monday.
Chinese coach Hao Wei was send to the stands late for hampering Ria Percival's bid to take a quick thrown in and New Zealand boss Tony Readings refused to shake his hand after the game.
A point was good enough for the Chinese, runners-up in 1999, to advance to the knockout rounds but dumped New Zealand out of the tournament once again in the group stage.
New Zealand needed to win and score goals to advance for the first time on their fourth attempt after losing to the Netherlands 1-0 and a goalless draw against Canada.
"In a do-or-die game teams are going to push the boundaries that added to the drama today," said Readings.
"I have always got on very well with the Chinese coach, very well. He's a very good coach.
"He obviously got sent to the stands for stopping our player taking a quick throw in, it's something I don't agree with and I would never do that to an opposition player.
"But we'll meet again, we always play a lot against the Chinese and there's no problem at all.
"It's not a big deal for us. It's all part of the gamesmanship, teams hungry and desperate to win, but it's not something I would do."
AFP
