China hit New Caledonia for five after half-time collapse in U20 Women’s World Cup

China scored five times after the break to defeat New Caledonia 5-0 in their opening Group F match at the U20 Women’s World Cup on Monday, 7 September 2026.

New Caledonia had appeared capable of frustrating their opponents during a disciplined first half, holding China at bay and reaching half-time with the score still goalless. However, the match changed immediately after the restart, with China finding the breakthrough just one minute into the second period.

Xiao opened the scoring in the 46th minute, setting China on their way to a decisive victory. The goal ended New Caledonia’s resistance and gave the Chinese side the momentum they needed to take control of the contest.

The Cagoues were unable to contain China’s attacking pressure as the second half progressed. Huang doubled the advantage in the 71st minute, before Zhou added a third goal only three minutes later to put the result beyond New Caledonia’s reach.

Huang then completed a hat-trick with two further goals in the closing stages. The forward struck again in the 80th minute and found the net for a third time six minutes later, completing China’s five-goal second-half surge.

The result means New Caledonia begin their first-ever appearance at a U20 Women’s World Cup with a heavy defeat. Their performance before the interval had offered encouragement, but they were unable to match China’s pace and attacking intensity after the restart.

China’s victory was built on a completely different second-half performance from the opening 45 minutes. New Caledonia had maintained their shape and prevented their opponents from making the breakthrough before the interval, but Xiao’s early goal after half-time quickly altered the balance of the game.

Once China had moved ahead, New Caledonia struggled to recover. Huang’s first goal created further breathing space, and Zhou’s strike soon afterwards left the Cagoues facing a substantial deficit. Huang’s late double then completed a result that reflected China’s dominance during the second half.

For New Caledonia, the match will provide both a difficult opening result and valuable experience at their first U20 Women’s World Cup. Their ability to keep China scoreless for 45 minutes showed the potential to compete, but the collapse after half-time underlined the challenge posed by the tournament’s stronger sides.

Their immediate task will be to learn from the way the match changed after the interval. China, meanwhile, made a strong start to their Group F campaign by turning a goalless first half into a convincing 5-0 success.