Women's World Cup 2019: China, Spain advance after 0-0 tie

China and Spain advanced to the Women's World Cup knockout rounds after settling for a drama-free 0-0 draw Monday in Le Havre.

With a stalemate enough to secure their places in the last 16, the two sides risked little and combined for few chances in a largely lackluster encounter.

Spain appeared likeliest to turn a wealth of possession into a winner but will be satisfied with a point that sews up second spot behind Germany in Group B.

China, meanwhile, has done enough to earn one of four third-place qualifying berths, a narrow win over South Africa last week in Paris proving crucial.

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Spain carved out the best chance of a subdued opening 30 minutes when Lucia Garcia went within a whisker of turning in Mariona Caldentey's ball across the face of goal.

Peng Shimeng was almost caught out on that occasion, but the China goalkeeper made amends with a sharp low save from Jennifer Hermoso's downward header before the break.

The pitch eventually opened up for Nahikari Garcia seven minutes after the interval, only for the forward to screw her shot wide of the far post.

Peng then needed to be at full stretch to turn away a Patri Guijarro attempt as Spain continued to probe for the breakthrough.

The Steel Roses' impressive shot-stopper made two more smart saves in the latter stages of the match, first from Guijarro and then Hermoso, to make certain of a crucial clean sheet.

Jorge Vilda, however, will remain the more confident of the two coaches of making an impression on the remainder of the tournament, his team now unbeaten in five of its past six matches.

Key Opta Facts:

- China has progressed to the knockout stages in each of its seven appearances at the Women's World Cup (1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019).

- Spain has failed to score in consecutive internationals for the first time since July 2017. 

- China became just the second side in Women's World Cup history to be involved in more than one goalless game (two, level with the USA), also drawing the 1999 final with the USA.

- Spain mustered 24 shots in this game, the most a team has attempted without managing to score in a Women's World Cup game since 2015, when Germany fired 32 without a goal against England in the third-place playoff.

- At an average age of 24 years and 335 days, Spain named their youngest-ever starting 11 at a Women's World Cup match.