Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic’s all-time top scorer Ji So-yun will return to the Korea Republic squad for the final competitive hit-out before April’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup after manager Yoon Duk-yeo named a 23-strong squad for the Portugal-based Algarve Cup.
The Chelsea star returns after missing December’s EAFF E-1 Championship, where the Koreans lost all three matches, and will be joined by 2017 Korean Women’s Player of the Year and recent INAC Kobe Leonessa signee Lee Min-a.
Lee’s new clubmate Choi Ye-seul and Jeon Ga-eul – who has been playing for Melbourne Victory in Australia’s W-League championship – are the other foreign-based representatives, with the remaining players plying their trade on home soil.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Jordan completed their two-game series against Afghanistan with a 6-0 win thanks to standout performances from three key players at Petra Stadium on Monday.
Doubles to Shahnaz Jebreen, Maysa Jbarah and substitute Mai Sweilem ensured the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosts earned a resounding win to follow their five-goal triumph at the same venue on Friday.
For the second successive match, 106th-ranked Afghanistan fell behind to an early Jebreen goal – this time in the 13th minute – before the attacking midfielder made it 2-0 in the 36th minute.
Maysa Jbarah continued her outstanding form in front of goal to make it 3-0 a minute later, and added a fourth shortly after half-time before being replaced by Sweilem.
Sweilem, 22, made sure Jordan didn’t miss a beat in the absence of their striker, helping herself to a double, to make it three goals in two matches this week.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Canberra: Star Matildas forward Sam Kerr has added a new honour to her already-bulging trophy case, with the 24-year-old being crowned Young Australian of the Year at a ceremony in the Australian capital.
Kerr won the award after a sensational 2017, in which she dominated the club scene in both Australia and the United States, and led the Australian national team to fourth in the FIFA World Rankings with 11 goals in six matches in the second half of the year.
The Young Australian of the Year accolade is the latest in a long line of awards for Kerr. In addition to being named the 2017 AFC Women’s Player of the Year, she was voted Most Valuable Player in the US-based National Women’s Soccer League and won the Julie Dolan Modeal for the outstanding player in the Australian W-League.
Kerr’s newest honour, for which Australians from all walks of life are eligible, sees her become the first footballer to win the award, joining celebrated athletes such as Olympic gold medallists Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kobe: With just over two months until the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, reigning Korean Women’s Player of the Year Lee Min-a has joined Japanese powerhouse INAC Kobe Leonessa.
Lee, who added seven goals to Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels’ championship-winning 2017 campaign, joins the three-time Japanese champions, who finished second behind NTV Beleza last year.
The forward is set to become teammates with Japanese internationals such as Aya Sameshima and Mana Iwabuchi, players she is expected face in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Korea Repubic and Japan have both been drawn into Group B, alongside Vietnam and 2010 winners Australia.
Lee - who played in thee of Korea’s four Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, and scored against India – told the the Yonhap news agency she was focused on a successful tournament in Jordan, where the top five finishers will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.