AFC Women’s Asian Cup: China pip Japan, to meet Korea in final | Football News – Times of India

China and Korea Republic will battle it out for top honours at AFC Women’s Asian Cup after winning their respective semifinals at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on Thursday. While China rode an extra-time equaliser and successful last penalty from captain Wang Shanshan to win 4-3 in a dramatic shoot-out after the regulation time ended 2-2, the South Koreans cruised past Philippines 2-0 in the other last-four clash.
Defending champions Ja-pan, aiming for a hat-trick of titles, controlled proceedings from kick off. Riko Ueki began where she had left off in the quarters and came close to scoring a couple of times. She finally got her fourth goal of the tournament from a team effort in the 26th minute when Hiyata Miyazawa’s cross found an unmarked Ueki in the box whose glancing header was unstoppable.

But the decks changed in the second half with China making three substitutions. The Japanese defence was caught napping just a minute after the change of ends as China got an equaliser when a cross from second-half substitute Xiao Yuyi was poached in by Chengsu Wu.

With Japan failing to finish off the game, China gained more control and made sure the match went into extra-time. After hitting the crossbar early after regulation time, it was Ueki again who beat the Chinese offside track to guide a long free-kick into the net in 103rd minute. However, in the 119th minute, Shanshan reclaimed parity by converting with a flick of the back heel. With both teams missing their first shot in the shootout and Yu Zhu saving Japan’s last penalty, it was left to Shanshan to send in their last effort and keep her team on course for a ninth continental title.