Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Korea Republic women’s national team may be on the verge of their most significant international tournament win, but qualifying for the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup remains their focus, according to star player Ji So-yun.
The Taegeuk Ladies are ninety minutes away from becoming the first Asian team to win the Cyprus Cup, and will meet unbeaten Switzerland at the AEK Stadium in Larnaca in Wednesday's final.
Ji is eying victory against the Swiss, but insists her main priority is the qualifying for the continental women’s football showpiece, to be held in Jordan from April 7 next year.
"I want to win, but more importantly I hope we have a good game so we have the confidence before (the qualifying tournament in DPR) Korea”, she told television network JTBC.
The 26-year-old – whose goals against Scotland and New Zealand helped to propel the Koreans to the final – revealed that her sparkling form had followed a pledge to coach Yoon Deok-yoo.
“I promised my coach that I would score before the game and win the game, and fortunately I was able to keep my promise for two consecutive games,” laughed Ji, who plays her club football for Chelsea in England.
Korea Republic began the tournament with a 0-0 draw against 2016 winners Austria, but consecutive 2-0 wins against Scotland and New Zealand were enough to qualify for the final as one of the two strongest group winners.
Switzerland – ranked 17th in the world, one place above Korea Republic – qualified after an opening draw with Belgium was followed by a last-gasp 1-0 win over DPR Korea and a 6-0 thrashing of Italy.
Win or lose on Wednesday, Korea Republic will travel north next month for a highly anticipated qualifying group hosted by DPR Korea and also featuring Hong Kong, India and Uzbekistan.
With just one ticket to Jordan available, the April 7 match between the Korean neighbours is likely to decide the group, and will be the first ever meeting between the two sides on DPR Korea soil.
Ji said the forthcoming qualifiers had “clearly motivated” the team, something which was reflected in the team’s training and performances.
“We have a come up a lot in training... we are constantly raising ourselves to reach the best condition (before the qualifiers),” she said.
DPR Korea has enjoyed historical dominance over Korea Republic in the women’s game, winning the last nine matches between the two sides.
They will also be in action on Wednesday, meeting Austria in a playoff for third after falling narrowly short of topping Group A and creating what would have been an historic inter-Korean final.
Final places up for grabs in Portugal
Meanwhile, at the Algarve Cup, the AFC’s three highest ranked teams will round off their respective campaigns with matches to determine their final ranking in the tournament, held in Portugal.
The Asian trio – Australia, Japan and China PR – have already qualified for Jordan 2018 by virtue of their performances at the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Vietnam.
Australia – somewhat unlucky to miss the final after topping Group C – will face Denmark in a battle for third place, while Japan will meet the Netherlands in the match to decide fifth and sixth.
Finally, China PR will be searching for the first win on the tournament in the playoff for ninth against Iceland.
Photo: AFP