FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 Group D

China made their third consecutive appearance in the finals having once again won the Asian Women's Championship. Sweden had qualified comfortably winning all of their group games. The 1998 OFC Women's Championship, held in Auckland, New Zealand the previous October had doubled in size and featured six teams but the gap between Australia and New Zealand and the rest was wider than ever. The hosts scored 35 times in their two group games while Australia netted 29 before overcoming their rivals in the final. Ghana had finished as runners-up to Nigeria in the African Women's Championship and qualified for the additional place awarded to the CAF under the expanded format.

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Knock Out Stages

1999 Overview

Sweden

China PR

Sweden 1 China PR 2

Spartan Stadium, San Jose (23,298)
19 June

This was expected to be the crunch game in Group D and it started well for Sweden who scored in the second minute through Bengtsson. China kept their nerve and Jin Yan leveled the scores in the 17th minute. Liu Ailing struck the winner in the 69th minute.

Australia

Ghana

Australia 1 Ghana 1

Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough (14,867)
20 June

Both goals came within two minutes, Gyumfa equalising (76') after Murray had put the Matildas ahead (74').

Australia

Sweden

Australia 1 Sweden 3

Jack Kent Cook Stadium, Landover (16,448)
23 June

Jane Törnqvist headed home a corner in the fifth minute. Ljungberg extended the Swedes' lead with the easiest of close range chances after the Australian goalkeeper failed to reach a low cross (21'). Ljungberg scored again in the second half after a defensive error.

China PR

Ghana

China PR 7 Ghana 0

Civic Stadium, Portland (17,668)
23 June

China blew the west African side away with a powerful performance. Sun Wen scored a hat-trick while Zhang Ouying and Zhao Lihong both scored in injury time.

China PR

Australia

China PR 3 Australia 1

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford (29,401)
26 June

China finished their group games with three wins out of three.

Ghana

Sweden

Ghana 0 Sweden 2

Soldier Field, Chicago (34,256)
26 June

Sweden were already through and could be forgiven for taking a relaxed approach to this match, which they still won comfortably.