Three weeks after helping her national team to a fifth-place finish at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018, Ji was instrumental as the Southwest London club prevailed in front of over 45,000 fans.

Two goals to Ramona Bachmann put Chelsea in the driver’s seat, before prolific Dutch international Vivienne Miedema kept Arsenal, who are coached by Australia’s Joe Montemurro, in the contest with a goal in the 73rd minute.

But a goal to Fran Kirby three minutes later sealed Chelsea’s win, their second in four years after Ji scored the only goal in the 2015 final against Notts County.

In addition to her key contribution as a provider of goal scoring opportunities, Ji added goals against London Bees in the third round, and Doncaster in the fourth to help Emma Hayes’ advance to the final.

In a successful season for the club, Chelsea remain in contention for the FA Women’s Super League title, and reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, before being eliminated by Wolfsburg last weekend.

Ji is expected to feature prominently in Korea Republic’s challenge for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in France next June.

The AFC Women's Asian Cup served as the final qualifying tournament for the Women's World Cup 2019 and to reach the continental competition, Yoon's side had to go through a tough road in the DPR Korea capital last April. 

The Taeguk Ladies were seen as underdogs in their duel with DPR Korea, but Korea Republic earned an Asian Cup berth at the end after edging their rivals on goal difference.

The positive energy that was created from Pyongyang led Korea Republic to to grab a ticket to the Women's World Cup 2019.

With China PR, Thailand, Australia and Japan already assured of their tickets to France 2019, the Koreans, who finished third in Group B to miss out on automatic qualification, proved too strong for their Southeast Asian opponents as Cho scored twice to ensure a rousing finale to her side’s continental campaign.

“I think it was definitely better that we had to play against very strong teams, matches in which we performed very well,” said Cho, a member of the Korea Republic squad which competed at the last World Cup in Canada.

“I believe those matches against Australia and Japan in the group stage certainly made us stronger (as the competition progressed), and the game against the Philippines, who along with Vietnam are certainly improving, was another great test for us. 

“I would like to say a big thanks to my teammates who did their absolute best in this game and throughout the tournament.”

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.