Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: The five teams who will represent Asia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 have been confirmed following Korea Republic’s 5-0 win over the Philippines in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018’s 5th-6th play-off on Monday.
Yoon Duk-yeo’s side join Australia, China PR, Japan and Thailand as the Asian sides to qualify for the global extravaganza, which will kick off on June 7, 2019 in Paris and conclude with the final a month later at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines-Charpieu.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Korea Republic shrugged off the disappointment of group stage elimination to qualify for a second successive FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating the Philippines 5-0 in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018’s play-off for fifth place on Monday.
Yoon Duk-yeo’s side will join Australia, Japan, China PR and Thailand as Asian representatives in December’s France 2019 draw after a brace to captain Cho So-hyun and goals to Jang Sel-gi, Lee Min-a, Lim Seon-joo and Cho So-hyun sealed a comprehensive victory.
It was the end of the Philippines’ World Cup odyssey, which began 379 days earlier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and took the Malditas the closest they have ever come to reaching the global finals, only to fall at the final hurdle.
Following highly creditable displays against both Australia and Japan, Korea Republic were heavily favoured to prevail in the cutthroat play-off, and took the early initiative despite losing Jung Seol-bin to injury in the opening minutes.
Jung’s replacement, Choe Yu-ri, came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute, having two attempts at goal blocked within a matter of seconds during a goalmouth scramble, as the Southeast Asians doggedly fought to keep their dream alive.
Philippines goalkeeper Kearra Bastes-Jones produced a number of excellent saves to keep the sides level, but after 34 minutes of Korean dominance, it seemed only a matter of time until the East Asians scored, and when they did, it was a goal worth waiting for.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Thailand boss Nuengrutai Srathongivan has vowed that her side will throw everything at Australia in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 semi-final, despite having lost star forward Suchawadee Nildhamrong for the remainder of the tournament.
Nuengrutai confirmed Nildhamrong's departure from the squad, but issued a reminder that her side’s impressive performances thus far were not solely down to the 21-year-old’s influence.
“Suchawadee is not only an important footballer, but she is also a university student and we emphasise that as well,” she said, “that’s why we left her to go back to the US and let her finish her final exams so she will be able to join us once again next year.
“Our progress in this tournament is not just about her. Even though we’ve reached our goal of making the semi-finals, we want to improve ourselves and test ourselves against the benchmark to get better and to help prepare ourselves for a tough (World Cup) tournament next year.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Head coach Siggi Eyjolfsson believes his China PR side are more than capable of springing a surprise when they face Japan in the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 on Tuesday.
Having guided the Steel Roses to pole position in Group A – as well as a ticket to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup – the Icelandic tactician and the eight-time Asian champions are now braced for the eagerly anticipated showdown with their regional rivals and defending champions.
Despite the team’s illustrious past and the excellent form China displayed whilst racking up three successive group stage victories, the 1999 World Cup runners-up, by their own admission, enter the game as underdogs. Not that Eyjolfsson is overly concerned.
“Of course, we have a chance against Japan,” he declared.