Striker Christine Sinclair scored an injury-time penalty for hosts Canada as they edged out China in the opening match of the Women's World Cup.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless conclusion until China's Zhao Rong was adjudged to have brought down Adriana Leon in the box.

Watched by a record crowd for Canadian football, China's Gu Yasha curled a free-kick against both posts.

Josee Belanger then hit a drive for Canada which rattled back off the bar.

The first match of the tournament was watched by more than 53,000 inside the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, making it the best attended match in Canadian men or women's football history, and supporters were experiencing a drab encounter until its dramatic conclusion.

Sinclair, who has now netted 154 goals in 224 international games, sent the fans into ecstasy with a coolly-taken late spot-kick as Canada went top of their group.

The 2015 tournament will be the biggest so far after the seventh edition was expanded to include 24 teams, with the final on 5 July in Vancouver.

There was controversy in the lead up when 84 players from 13 countries were involved in a lawsuit against the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and world governing body Fifa for the use of artificial pitches in the tournament, which could clearly be seen by the uneven roll of the ball.

These two sides line up in Group A alongside Netherlands and New Zealand, with the winners and runners-up from each of the six four-team groups qualifying for the last 16, as well as the four best third-placed teams. Japan are the current holders of the trophy.

Englishman John Herdman's Canada side went into the event having beaten England 1-0 in their final warm-up game last month, and will be overjoyed by snatching the win against China.

The Chinese backline had defended resolutely, but came away with nothing and their winless run now extends to 11 games, dating back to December 2014.

Kadeisha Buchanan had a shot blocked by China goalkeeper Wang Fei, while star striker Sinclair nicked an effort wide.

Both sides came within inches of grabbing the opening goal, but Gu Yasha and Belanger both hit the woodwork, before Sinclair's late intervention.