Match ends, South Africa 0, China PR 1.
Li Ying scored with a brilliant first-half volley to earn China victory over debutants South Africa, who face elimination from the Women's World Cup.
The result means Group B rivals Germany qualify for the last 16, with China and Spain hoping to join them.
After an uneventful first 40 minutes, Li brought the Parc des Princes crowd to their feet when she converted Zhang Rui's pinpoint delivery.
Wang Shanshan went close with a header that hit the bar and came off the line.
South Africa looked like they could cause the Asian side problems on the counter-attack but they lacked accurate final balls.
Africa's player of the year Thembi Kgatlana, who scored against Spain in the 3-1 defeat, produced Banyana Banyana's best chance when she burst into the area and fired into the side-netting.
Her team-mate Kholosa Biyana launched an effort from 25 yards but it was easily dealt with by Jiangsu Suning goalkeeper Peng Shimeng.
South Africa will need to defeat two-time champions Germany in their final match by a handsome margin to qualify for the last 16.
'We're getting close to the top teams'
China coach Jia Xiuquan: "The victory belongs to all players - they deserve it. The battle has just begun and there will be tough games ahead. I hope to laugh at the very last moment.
"I hope the players can exhibit their true ability - their desire to win has impressed me the most over the past year. This has given me courage to lead them, and they have done a great job today.
"Today we executed our plan. The game unfolded as we planned."
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis: "They were once again magnificent. We conceded from a set-piece and lost concentration there. We had ample opportunities.
"We said it would be a battle and like a final. Tonight we showed we are getting close to the top teams. We gave as good as they gave.
"My players put their bodies on the line."
Shot-shy in Paris - the stats
- China are unbeaten at the Women's World Cup when they've opened the scoring, winning 15 of the 16 games that they've netted first in (D1).
- South Africa are the fourth different African team to lose their first two games in the Women's World Cup, along with Nigeria (1991), Equatorial Guinea (2011) and the Ivory Coast (2015).
- Li Ying was China's 23rd different goalscorer at the Women's World Cup (excluding own goals); only four nations have had more scorers in the competition (Germany 34, USA 32, Norway 29, Sweden 25).
- China's Wang Shuang created five chances for her team-mates in this game; the most by a Chinese player in a Women's World Cup game across the last two tournaments (2015 and 2019).
- There were just four shots on target in this game (one for South Africa and three for China) - only one game has had fewer in the 2019 Women's World Cup so far (three between Argentina and Japan).
Line-ups
South Africa
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 20Swart
- 2Ramalepe
- 5van Wyk
- 4MatlouBooked at 83mins
- 23HolweniSubstituted forSmedaat 72'minutes
- 13Mbane
- 11Kgatlana
- 6Makhabane
- 19Biyana
- 15JaneSubstituted forMotlhaloat 82'minutes
- 8FulutudiluSubstituted forSeoposenweat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Mpuru
- 7Dhlamini
- 9Mthandi
- 10Motlhalo
- 12Seoposenwe
- 14Makhubela
- 16Dlamini
- 17Smeda
- 18Gamede
- 21Ndimeni
- 22Mulaudzi
China
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Peng
- 6Han
- 5Wu
- 3Lin
- 2Liu
- 7Wang
- 13WangSubstituted forYangat 81'minutes
- 20Zhang
- 17GuSubstituted forLouat 65'minutes
- 11Wang
- 10LiSubstituted forYaoat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Xu
- 4Lou
- 8Li
- 9Yang
- 14Wang
- 15Song
- 16Li
- 18Bi
- 19Tan
- 21Yao
- 22Luo
- 23Liu
- Referee:
- Katalin Kulcsár
- Attendance:
- 20,011
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, South Africa 0, China PR 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Yang Li (China PR) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lou Jiahui.
Post update
Attempt saved. Yang Li (China PR) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lou Jiahui.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Yang Li (China PR) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yao Wei.
Post update
Yao Wei (China PR) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa).
Post update
Foul by Wang Shanshan (China PR).
Post update
Bambanani Mbane (South Africa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, China PR. Conceded by Kaylin Swart.
Post update
Attempt saved. Han Peng (China PR) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Wang Shuang with a cross.
Post update
Corner, China PR. Conceded by Leandra Smeda.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Lou Jiahui (China PR).
Booking
Noko Matlou (South Africa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Lou Jiahui (China PR) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Noko Matlou (South Africa).
Substitution
Substitution, South Africa. Linda Motlhalo replaces Refiloe Jane.
Substitution
Substitution, China PR. Yang Li replaces Wang Yan.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.