The unexpected defeat of the Chinese national women's soccer team to Canada in the quarter-finals, as well as the retirement announcement by captain Sun Wen, has shocked millions of fans in this world's most populated nation.

"It was really heartbreaking to see the final result of a match dominated by our team," Zhang Hui, a college student and an ardent fan of the Steel Roses, said after Canada defeated China 1-0 on Thursday.

Another teenager, Wang Hua, who watched the live coverage of China's progress in the World Cup, which had to be shifted to the United States from the communist nation in view of the outbreak of Severe Accute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic in Beijing earlier this year, summed up her reaction in one word: "shocking", according to the Xinhua news agency.

"We were unlucky not to have scored," she said, "and there was no need for Sun to retire from the game as she tried her best to equalise."

The agency commented that the Chinese team's poor finishing cost them the match.

"The Chinese women dominated the North Americans but their poor finish ability took its toll, sent home with only three goals from four matches," the agency report said.

"The Steel Roses, whose beautiful passing game won hearts of the millions of American fans four years ago by finishing runners-up, proved they have already been past their prime," it said.

Coach Ma Liangxing's ageing side might not have expected they could repeat the feat achieved four years ago, but they also must not have expected they would be stopped at such an early stage, it said.

China, who scored only three goals in their previous three matches, continued to create chances but just could not find the net.

Chinese captain Sun, 30, the golden ball and golden boot winner in the last World Cup, had several shots wide.

Sun, one of the only few players in the world who have played all four World Cups, said she had no regrets in her career and felt it was time to call it quits.

"I have played my last game," she said. "Football is just a game, now life must move on."

Sun scored a total of 106 goals in her 152 appearances for China. She experienced China's pinnacle when they won Olympic silver in 1996 and were World Cup runners-up in 1999.

Sun said she will continue her study of international relations in Shanghai.

"I have played my last game. I will neither play for China nor for any clubs."

Meanwhile, coach Ma attributed the Steel Roses defeat to the fact that the team could not find a way to overcome the deep or concentrated defences.

"It is obvious that China cannot overcome the deep or concentrated defences through the past several matches. I will be responsible for this," Ma said.

But Ma, who took over as China coach in early 2002, said he will not quit despite the defeat.