Favourites China and the United States opened the third Women's Soccer World Cup with victories on Saturday in very different fashion and surroundings.
The Chinese needed Liu Ailing's goal in the 69th minute to escape with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in San Jose, while the US blanked Denmark 3-0 before a record crowd of 78,972 at Giants Stadium, New Jersey.
Brazil routed Mexico 7-1 and Japan fought Canada to a 1-1 draw in other first-round matches on the first day of the 16-team affair.
While the Americans have field and crowd support, the Chinese team has beaten them twice this year, including a triumph that snapped the Americans' 50-match unbeaten streak on home soil.
But China fell behind Sweden quickly in their Group D match when Kristin Bengtsson scored in the second minute, the second-fastest goal in the competition's history.
"That was a mistake by (defender Wen Lirong)," China coach Yuan Ma said. "After that, they played more aggressively. We have to play better in the future."
Jin Yan equalised with a header in the 17th minute and Liu won it with a right-footed shot over goalkeeper Ulrika Karlsson from the top of the penalty area.
Host China was upset by Sweden in a 1991 World Cup quarter-final, but they beat the Swedes 4-3 on penalties in 1995 and have won three games since by a combined 8-0 margin.
"China is a very good team," Sweden coach Marika Lyfors Domanski said. "If we had beaten them it would have taken a bit of luck and we didn't have that today."
The Americans overpowered the Danes, with Mia Hamm scoring her 109th international goal, a record for men or women, and assisting on another to spark the US team.
"The first half was a little rough. We had a lot of jitters on the field," Hamm said. "In the second half we started playing our style, started possessing the ball. The crowd was behind us. It was an unbelievable feeling."
Brazil got three goals each from Pretinha and Sissi in their Group B rout, after which Brazilian coach Wilson said: "We were a little nervous. We will improve next time."
Canadian captain Silvana Burtini scored in the 32nd minute, but Japan's Nami Otake equalised in the 64th minute.
Canada's Andrea Neil missed a chance to win the game late when midfielder Geri Donnelly lobbed her the ball. Neil had only to beat goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago but sailed the ball over the crossbar.
