ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Port win Shanghai derby; Phnom Penh retain Super Cup

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Port win Shanghai derby; Phnom Penh retain Super Cup

Kuala Lumpur: Oscar and Wu Lei scored two goals each as frontrunners Shanghai Port posted a resounding 5-0 derby win over closest challengers Shanghai Shenhua on Saturday to help Javier Pereira’s side open up an 11-point lead at the top of the Chinese Super League standings. 

The curtain-raiser to a new season in Cambodia saw defending league champions Phnom Penh Crown defeat 2022 Hun Sen Cup winners Visakha FC 2-1 after extra time to claim the Super Cup for the second season running at National Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
 
Hanoi FC returned to the top in Vietnam while matches also took place in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN and East Asia.

Preview - Group B: Canada v Australia

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group B: Canada v Australia

Melbourne: Australia will need laser-sharp focus when they meet Canada in their final FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match on Monday.

Buoyed by the return of Sam Kerr, Australia - who have three points and are one behind frontrunners Nigeria and Canada - can secure a place in the last-16 with a victory.
 
The co-hosts started their campaign with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland but were shocked 3-2 on Matchday Two by Nigeria.

Preview - Group C: Japan v Spain

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group C: Japan v Spain

Wellington: Head coach Futoshi Ikeda has reminded his Japan players to stay fully focused when they meet Spain in their final FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match on Monday.

The match at the Wellington Regional Stadium will decide the group winners, with both teams having already qualified for the knockout stage after victories against Costa Rica and Zambia.

Group A: Philippines undone by Norway power show

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Group A: Philippines undone by Norway power show

Auckland: The Philippines’ fairytale adventure at their first FIFA Women’s World Cup came to an end following a 6-0 defeat to former champions Norway at Eden Park on Sunday.

Sophie Haug’s quick-fire brace and a rocket from Caroline Graham Hansen gave a dominant Norway a 3-0 half-time lead with the goals continuing to come after the break as Alicia Barker’s own-goal, Guro Reiten’s penalty, and Haug’s third underlined the margin of victory.

A red card for Sofia Harrison put an end to any unlikely comeback for the Philippines as Norway ultimately coasted into the Round of 16 and eliminated the Southeast Asian nation, who finished bottom of Group A. The European side will face either Japan or Spain in the Round of 16 on Saturday. 

Group A: Switzerland advance as New Zealand crash out

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Group A: Switzerland advance as New Zealand crash out

Dunedin: Switzerland qualified for the last 16 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 on Sunday as co-hosts New Zealand were eliminated.

The Swiss finished top of Group A thanks to a 0-0 draw with New Zealand in Dunedin, while Norway defeated the Philippines 6-0 in Auckland to overtake the co-hosts in the standings on goal difference.

Group H: Korea Republic on the brink after defeat to Morocco

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Group H: Korea Republic on the brink after defeat to Morocco

Adelaide: Korea Republic’s involvement in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 was dealt a near fatal blow on Sunday as Colin Bell’s side slipped to a 1-0 loss against tournament debutants Morocco in Adelaide.

Ibtissam Jraidi’s sixth minute header earned the north Africans their first-ever win at a FIFA Women’s World Cup less than a week after suffering a 6-0 defeat against Germany and left the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ runners-up without a point after two matches in Group H.
 
Bell’s side will face Germany in their final game in Brisbane on Thursday with the Koreans only having a mathematical chance of meeting their pre-tournament target of qualifying for the knockout rounds for the second time in their history.

Group H: Colombia stun Germany with last-gasp winner

Sun, 30 Jul, 2023

Group H: Colombia stun Germany with last-gasp winner

Sydney: Colombia scored a 97th-minute winner through a Manuela Vanegas header to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany and stand on the cusp of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 last 16 on Sunday.

Skipper Alexandra Popp thought she had rescued a point for Germany as she held her nerve to score from the spot on 89 minutes. But in an incredible finish to a pulsating clash, Vanegas popped up deep into stoppage time for all three points with a close-range header.
 
It came after Linda Caicedo scored one of the goals of the tournament in front of 40,000 fans in Sydney near the start of the second half, but that was just the beginning of the drama.
 
Their victory left Colombia top of Group H with a perfect six points. Germany and Morocco have three each and all to play for with Korea Republic are still just about alive on zero points.