Lou Jiahui's first-half double saw China book their place in the semi-finals of the AFC U-19 Women's Championship after they defeated a determined Australia 2-1 in a controversial Group B encounter at Hankou Sports Culture Stadium.
Lou struck after 11 and 42 minutes to give China a two goal cushion at the break, with Kyah Simon halving the deficit midway through the second-half before Australia were left fuming with time running out after being awarded a free-kick outside the area for a foul they felt took place inside the penalty area.
Jessica Seaman was then shown a red card on the stroke of full-time for what appeared to be dissent, before a mass brawl erupted on the pitch and the Australian team were pelted with plastic bottles as they headed to the tunnel.
China keeper Zhang Yue was the first to be called into action after seven minutes.
Angela Fimmano was brought down and Elsie Kellond-Knight's floated free-kick cleared everyone, forcing Zhang to clear with her legs.
Four minutes later, China took the lead. Huang Liu-fei hit a speculative effort from 35 yards that Casey Dumont unfortunately let slip through her hands and although the Australian keeper managed to recover and push the ball off the line, Lou Jiahui followed up to poke home.
Following the early setback, the Young Matildas began to take the game to their opponents with skipper Tameka Butt's tenacious tackling and probing at the forefront.
However, China were a constant danger on the break with both Gu Yasha down the left and Xu Yanlu on the right providing a duel threat.
Australia nearly drew level in the 38th minute, however, as another Kellond-Knight dead ball almost caught out Zhang Yue with the Chinese keeper clawing the ball onto the inside of the post before it was cleared to safety.
It proved pivotal as China doubled their lead three minutes before the break. Gu was set free down the left and her cross was side-footed home by the onrushing Lou from 10 yards.
Australia boss Alen Stejcic made attacking substitutions after the break but China had the first real opportunity when Song Sicheng wriggled past a couple of challenges following a short corner routine but drilled into the side netting when a cross was the better option.
Ashleigh Sykes led a swift counter on the hour mark but following a blistering run, the substitute shot tamely at Zhang with a clear sight of goal.
Zhang Chenxue then almost netted a third three minutes later as the substitute drove into the box down the right and her powerful drive flashed just over the bar.
An Ning dragged a shot wide when clean through after a long ball had found its way through to the forward while at the other end, Sykes stole in unmarked at the back post but just failed to connect with Kellond-Knight's free-kick.
Gu saw a left-foot shot drift wide after 71 minutes but Australia pulled a goal back a minute later when Kyah Simon swivelled and volleyed Samantha Kerr's cross into the far corner from 12 yards for her second goal of the tournament.
Australia threw everything forward in search of a late equaliser and the Young Matilda’s though they’d won a penalty only for the referee to award a free-kick just outside the area instead.
Teresa Polias' 25-yard drive flashed agonisingly wide in stoppage-time before Seaman was shown a straight red card shortly before the final whistle.
As the players left the pitch, an Australian fell to the ground and skipper Butt sprinted across the pitch to confront the Chinese players before both teams and backroom staff stormed onto the pitch and a huge brawl ensued.
Plastic water bottles then rained down on the Australian players from a highly-charged and partisan crowd as they headed down the tunnel, an unpleasant last act that marred what had been a competitive and entertaining 90 minutes.