JAPAN v CHINA PR

China PR were tested at times by Bahrain on Matchday One, but delivered an excellent performance to defeat Lebanon 6-0 on Saturday, in a result that secured their appearance in the knockout stage.

They can now win Group C, and avoid a quarter-final against Islamic Republic of Iran, if they are able to surprise 2015 finalists and East Asian rivals Japan, but Chinese captain Wang Ting said she doesn’t mind who she plays.

“We don’t think too much about who our opponent will be, we think about our own team. We will always try our best but we focus on ourselves,” she said.

“We didn’t think we could get six goals (against Lebanon) but we did it, so I believe anything is possible and we will give our all.”

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN v UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan’s 3-1 win over Turkmenistan was cause for celebration for Avaz Maksumov’s side, as they secured safe passage to the knockout stage, but the head coach will surely rue the chaotic series of events that occurred in the final moments.

With goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova already having been shown a red card in the first half, replacement shot-stopper Maftna Jonimqulova was disastrously also given her marching orders for handling the ball outside the penalty area just two seconds before full time.

It means Uzbekistan must now face reigning champions Iran, who scored 14 goals in their first match, without their top two goalkeepers, and Maksumov conceded he may need to alter his approach.

Li Jingjing’s first half double set the East Asians on their way, before four Chinese second half goals put the destination of the three competition points beyond doubt.

Hu Jie’s side will have their ticket to Wednesday’s quarter-finals stamped as early as tonight if Bahrain fails to defeat Jordan in Group B’s late kick-off, while Lebanon’s defeat confirms that they will not progress beyond the group stage.

Lebanon entered the game at Bangkok Arena full of optimism after their encouraging showing against 2015 finalists Japan, but their hopes suffered an early blow when Li Jinging gave China the lead with a clever back-heel in the third minute.

Maroun El Khoury’s side responded, forcing Zhang Meini into saves from Rayane Rachid, Nancy Tchaylian and Natahlie Matar in quick succession, before China created a number of chances of their own.

Captain Wang Ting was denied twice by Nathaline Gilinguirian’s fingertips, but the Lebanese shot-stopper was beaten in the final minute of the half as China took command of the contest with a 2-0 lead.

Gilinguirian reached, but couldn’t hold Li Yingqing’s well-struck cross from just inside the corner spot, allowing Li Jinging to help the loose ball over the line from two metres for her second of the match and third of the tournament.

Kenichiro Kogure’s side were rarely troubled as they piled on five first half goals, before adding eight more in the second 20 minutes, to join China PR in advancing to Wednesday’s quarter-finals.

Eri Wakabayshi and Anna Amishiro scored hat-tricks as the 2015 finalists’ precise passing and off-the-ball movement left their inexperienced opponents chasing shadows.

Bahrain were under pressure from the get-go, taking up deep positions as their opponents probed for a way through their defence and eventually took the lead when Wakabayashi was teed up for a back post tap-in by Junko Yokoyama.

Japan added a beauty of a second when Amishiro tricked her way past Deena before rifling the ball home in the 10th minute, and Bahrain could do nothing but watch seven minutes later when Wakabayashi finishing off a wonderful passing move involving Mika Eguchi and Misato Komura.

Ryo Egawa was the beneficiary of a somewhat fortuitous deflection in the build up to score in the 18th minute, before turning provider for Riho Katsumata two minutes later to give Japan a deserved 5-0 half-time lead.

Avaz Maksumov's charges knew that a win would surely secure a place in the final eight, but Turkmenistan were out to avenge their opening day 14-0 loss to Islamic Republic of Iran, and were notably more spirited in the opening minutes. 

Turkmenistan played defensively, slowly prodding for a counter-attack move, while Uzbekistan had the lion's share of possession in the first half and made numerous attempts with their quick through passes into the box but it all lacked a fine finish. 

Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova was replaced by Maftuna Jonimqulova in the 11th minute after her miscalculated clearance tackled Turkmenistan's forward.

However, their constant attacks finally paid dividends in the 17th minute when Zumratjon Nazarova intercepted a pass and slid the ball forward to Feruza Turdiboeva on the right flank, before passing it back to Nazarova for a close range effort to take the lead. 

Rushaniya Safina and Lyudmila Karachik formed quite a formidable duo for Uzbekistan, and just one minute later, the two surged down the middle with their quick passes and Safina, with her finishing touch made no mistake to double their lead going into the half-time break.

With Hong Kong defeating Macau 7-0 in the day's earlier match, Indonesia and Thailand knew that a second win would put them in a comfortable position in the race for a spot in the quarter-finals, and the hosts began brightly.

It was clear, however, that head coach Sumianto had done his research and Indonesia did well in keeping their backline clear of any danger, despite Thailand's continuous efforts.

In the 12th minute, Mutita Sankram came closest for Thailand when they reacted on a counter-attack and she sprinted down the right flank but her shot flew wide, while a minute from the half-time break Indonesia had a counter-attack of their own with Novita leading the charge but her strike was cleared by Pannipa Kamolrat.

The East Asians were staring down the barrel of elimination at 1-0 down just before half time, but a converted penalty and three second half goals revived their quarter-final hopes.

Malaysia had started promisingly, but the Southeast Asians’ fate will be decided by the jeopardy of a winner-takes-all match against group leaders Vietnam on Sunday.

Knowing their place in the quarter-finals would be secure with a win, Malaysia made the all important breakthrough in the fifth minute when Siti Asnidah Zamri dispossessed Hsieh I-ling before taking a touch and slamming the ball past Li I-chieh for her second goal of the tournament.

While Addie Azwan’s side made a dream start, the rest of their first half was marred by a series of missed opportunities, particularly from counter-attacks.

Hanis missed a sitter seconds after her desperate launch denied Lin Ya-hui at the other end of the court, before Intan Sarah Anisah squandered two opportunities to double the Malaysian lead shortly thereafter.

They paid for their profligacy in the 18th minute, when Norhawa Yasin was shown a red card for handling Chen Ya-chun’s goal-bound effort, and when the 24-year-old stepped up to convert the spot kick, it was 1-1 and game on.

Malaysia had a golden chance to restore their lead when a heavy Chen Pin-hui challenge put Chinese Taipei in foul trouble seconds later, but Siti Nur Atiqah Rashid blasted high and wide from the second penalty mark and the sides remained level at half-time.