Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Ho Chi Minh City: Korea Republic striker Park Eun-sun insists her team-mates can shrug off the absence of influential playmaker Ji So-yun and achieve a first-ever semi-final victory in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup by defeating defending champions Australia on Thursday at Thong Nhat Stadium.
Park (pic), the tournament’s leading scorer, was in explosive form in the group stages with a brace against Myanmar in the group opener followed by a hat-trick against Thailand as the Koreans topped Group B ahead of China via goal-difference after the East Asian sides shared a goalless draw on Monday.
But much of her and her fellow forwards successes so far have been down to Chelsea LFC schemer Ji, who Australia coach Alen Stajcic pinpointed as one of the players of the tournament so far, and with the 23-year-old star heading back to London tomorrow, it could be advantage Australia.
“There was a good connection between me and Ji and she’s a great player, but her leaving at this stage of the tournament will create chances for other players and they will be fighting hard for that one extra space in the starting line-up,” said Park.
“Although some people may think it’s a disadvantage for us without her, I think it’s the opposite way; whoever comes in will be looking to prove themselves to the manager that they deserve to be in the first team and it creates more competition within the team which can only be a positive.
Having enjoyed success with Korea at the 2004 AFC U-19 Women’s Championships and the 2005 EAFF Women's Football Championship, Park is eager to taste championship success after a long wait.
“The players have been saying throughout the tournament we didn’t come to finish third or fourth, we came to get into the final and win the tournament,” added the 27-year-old.
“On a personal level, this is my first tournament with the national team since the 2005 East Asian Cup and from the beginning once I was called-up all I thought about was winning this tournament.”
Her coach, Yoon Duk-yeo, was in similar bullish mood despite Korea Republic having crashed out on their three previous appearances in the semi-finals.
“We all know that we’re the only team of the final four who haven’t made the final before in tournament but we’ve prepared very hard and we’ve prepared well for the game against Australia,” said coach Yoon, who, unlike the three other coaches in semi-finals has kept a core of players in each group stage match rather than operate a full-scale rotation system.
“We haven’t changed too much from our group stage games and have kept consistency in our line-up. We’ve been fortunate that there have been no injuries so far but the weather has been very hot and humid so it has been hard at times for the players.
“We’ve focused a lot on recovering from fatigue, especially as Australia will be in better condition as they had one more rest-day, but we will prepare well and we’re hoping to make a good game against a strong team like the defending champions.”