Hosts Canada had to settle for a goalless draw against New Zealand but remain top of their Group A after the second round of matches at the Women's World Cup on Thursday.

Canada have four points from two games following their 1-0 win over China in Saturday's opener.

Earlier China picked up three points after beating the Netherlands 1-0, and are second along with the Dutch who won their opener against New Zealand 1-0.

Christine Sinclair, who scored the last-gasp penalty winner over China, missed a string of chances to seal all three points.

"New Zealand were tough as we expected, they were physical and good with the set-plays," said former Kiwi coach Herdman.

"I thought we were the better team but we need to hit the back of the net.

"All-in-all another solid performance from Canada, we just need to find the net and give the fans something to cheer."

The match played on front of 35,544 people at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium had lots of drama, including a 30-minute weather delay.

Both sides missed a string of chances during the physically tough encounter including a missed first-half penalty from New Zealand's Amber Hearn.

Hearn rattled the crossbar from the spot after 33 minutes after Hannah Wilkinson was fouled inside the box by Canadian defender Allysha Chapman.

Former Ottawa Fury player Hearn, who marked her 100th cap against the Netherlands, missed a string of chances to get New Zealand their first World Cup win in their third edition of the tournament.

"We are disappointed not to come away with all three points again," said Kiwi coach Tony Readings.

"We feel we should have at least four points by now.

"We created many chances and we have struggled to score in these past two games, but one day we will beat someone three, four, five-nil.

"We have been very good defensively, now it is just a matter of working on things at the other end of the pitch."

Canada's best chance came midway through the first half with Sinclair denied by Erin Nayler in the New Zealand goal.

Canada's Melissa Tancredi deflected the ball into the net in the final minute of the half only to be denied by the offside flag.

After the break a Sinclair volley was saved by the solid Nayer, while Sophie Schmidt hit the crossbar with her free-kick.

Another Sinclair shot at goal five minutes from time also went wide.

In the final Group A games on Monday, Canada will play the Netherlands with China up against New Zealand.

"This group is very tight. We know China so well, and it is always going to be tight when we play them," said Readings.

The top two teams in each group advance to the knock-out round along with the four best third-place finishers.