Australia, DPR Korea reach final, hosts China upset
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Xu Yuan (R) of China vies with Yun Song Mi of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during their semifinal match at the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 27, 2010. DPRK won 1-0. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] |
Reigning champions DPR Korea reached the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup by edging hosts China 1-0 in the semis in Chengdu on Thursday, while Australia also made the final after beating Japan 1-0.
The AFC women's Asian Cup is held in the soccer-mad city of Chengdu from May 19-30. The top three finishers will qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany.
DPR Korea and Australia now have both secured the berths of the World Cup, while China lost the good chance today and have to take on Japan in the third-place playoff on Sunday to fight for the last World Cup berth of Asia.
The defending champions harvested the unique goal on 108 minutes, 18 minutes into the extra time. Midfielder Kim Kyong Hwa pounced on the loose ball to break the deadlock after her teammate's shot was rejected.
"We missed a lot of chances today because our team are quite young and lack of experiences," said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang Mim. "I am very proud of our players that they fought to the last minute."
The "Steel Roses" now stretched their poor record against DPR Korea, as their 1-0 win in the semifinal of the 2006 Asian Cup remains their only victory over the old foes in their last 14 encounters before this time in Chengdu.
"We performed quite well at the beginning, but DPR Korea are stronger than us," said Shang Ruihua, coach of the Chinese team. "We've expected to play the penalty shootout, but failed due to a mistake made by ourselves."
"I am satisfied with our players," he said. "It is the best game we played here at the Asian Cup. Now we still have chances for the World Cup, and we'll do our best."
"Japan have the best techniques of the last four teams," Shang added. "I didn't expect that they could be beaten by Australia, just as I didn't expect that we could lost due to one of our mistakes. But it is football. We will be very well prepared."
DPR Korea, who beat China 2-1 in the Asian Cup final two years ago, created many scoring chances but failed to cash in a single one in the regular time.
The reigning champions took advantage of the field with their offensive attacks and solid defense, while China were pressed into their own half most time of the first half. The hosts even failed to make a real challenging attack against DPR Korea's goalmouth before the break.
China improved their performance in the second half and launched several counter attacks, but they still failed to open the scoring.
DPR Korea could have taken the lead when Ra Un Sim's powerful shot went narrowly wide in the 21st minute, two minutes before Kim Kyong Hwa's long shot was denied by China's goalkeeper Zhang Yanru.
DPR Korea's forward Kim Yong Ae was given time and space outside the box in the 33rd minute after an unforced error made by China's goalie and defender, but her shot to an empty net was rejected by defender Yuan Fan, one minute before Zhang rejected Yun Song Mi's low shot.
DPR Korea launched a free kick two minutes later, but midfielder Kim Kyong Hwa's surpurb shot miss the target as the ball went narrowly wide.
China launched a corner in the 43rd minute by captain Bi Yan, but forward Han Duan made a sky shot to miss the chance. The same repeated in the 66th minute when Han's shot went higher after a corner arched by Bi.
DPR Korea could have won the semi within 90 minutes when Kim Yong Ae fired wide from a tight angle in the 80th minute.
After the goal that the home crowd dreaded arrived in the 108th minute, the hosts tried hard to equalize, but failed at last.
DPR Korea will face Australia on Sunday's Asian Cup final, the latter edged Japan 1-0 earlier Thursday.
Australian forward Kathryn Gill scored the only goal in the semifinal to send her team through to the final for the first time in four years at the expense of Japan.
"Japan controlled the most time of the match, and they are a very talented team," said Australia coach Tom Sermanni. "But we played solid defense. I am so happy about the result."
"The victory is very important for us, and it will be an encouragement for us on Sunday's final," he added.
In the sun-drenched Chengdu Sports Centre, Gill pounced on a loose ball to score in the last seconds of the first half when Japan's goalkeeper Kaihori Ayumi failed to collect the ball in the box.
East Asian champions Japan may blame their bad luck as they took control of the field in most time and launched several threatening attacks.
Japan missed their best chance before the break as Kumagai Saki's powerful shot on Miyama Aya's corner hit the far post. Midfielder Nagasato Yuki pounced on the loose ball but missed the target again as the ball flew over the crossbar.
Japan continued the aggressive style in the second half but squandered a scoring chance in the 70th minute when Kinga Yukari's surpurb shot rattled the crosscar, five minutes before Miyama Aya's low shot was rejected by Australia's goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri.
Australia could have extended their lead in the injury time when midfielder Teigen Allen shot wide from a tight angle on Collette Mccallum's fine cross.
"Australia performed quite well today," said Japan coach Sasaki Norio. "We missed many chances after losing the first goal."
"I hope our team can learn from the loss," he added.
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