Women’s Asian Cup: China, North Korea seal quarter-final spots after dominant wins
Holders China beat stubborn Uzbekistan while the Koreans, who have now scored eight goals in their two matches, defeat debutants Bangladesh
Defending champions China and North Korea strolled into the quarter-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup on Friday, grabbing their second straight wins in Group B as Uzbekistan and Bangladesh succumbed to successive defeats.
China, seeking a record-extending 10th title, beat Uzbekistan 3-0 with Li Qingtong netting a brace, after a dominant North Korea beat tournament debutants Bangladesh 5-0 at the Western Sydney Stadium. The North Koreans have scored eight goals in two matches without allowing any.
China broke through against a stubborn Uzbekistan defence at the half-hour mark, when Shao Ziqin calmly slotted a penalty into the bottom left corner after she was brought down in the box.
Uzbekistan keeper Maftuna Jonimqulova did well to save multiple close-range attempts from Shao and Zhang Linyan, but her luck ran out in the 51st minute when she collided with a teammate trying to intercept a cross, allowing Li to shoot into the empty net.
Li completed her brace 26 minutes later, heading into the net from Zhang Xin’s cross to seal a comfortable win for China.
Earlier, Bangladesh held off North Korea until late in the first half as the three-time champions had two goals disallowed, but the floodgates opened in stoppage time before the break, with Myong Yu-jong and Kim Kyong-yong scoring two minutes apart.