03/06/26 04:16:00
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03/06 04:10 CST China, North Korea advance to the Women's Asian Cup
quarterfinals after 2nd straight wins
China, North Korea advance to the Women's Asian Cup quarterfinals after 2nd
straight wins
SYDNEY (AP) --- Defending champions China and three-time winners North Korea
are through to the Women's Asian Cup quarterfinals after their second
consecutive wins in group matches Friday.
Midfielder Myong Yu Jong scored her fourth goal of the Women's Asian Cup to
lead North Korea to a 5-0 win. Later China beat Uzbekistan 3-0 on a goal by
Shao Ziqin in the 30th minute and Li Qingtong's first of two goals five minutes
into the second half.
North Korea has scored eight goals in two matches without allowing any. After
two earlier North Korea goals had been overturned by video replays Friday, Kim
Kyong Yong and Myong scored goals in first-half added time to put the Koreans
in charge 2-0.
Myong's goal came on a penalty with a right-footed shot to the bottom right
corner after Bangladesh's Afida Khandaker was shown a yellow card for a foul.
North Korea scored goals two minutes apart in the second half, with Kim scoring
her second of the game preceded by Chae Un Yong's right-footed shot from close
range that found the center of the net. Kim Hye-Yong finished the scoring for
North Korea in the 90th minute.
In opening group matches on Tuesday, Myong had a first-half hat trick in North
Korea's 3-0 win over Uzbekistan and China beat Bangladesh 2-0.
Group B play concludes Monday in Sydney when North Korea plays China in a match
that will decide first place in the group, and Bangladesh takes on Uzbekistan.
State of play
The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals
along with the two best third-place teams.
In Group C on Saturday at Perth, Western Australia, Vietnam plays Taiwan and
Japan takes on India. Wins by Japan and Vietnam would clinch quarterfinal
places. Japan beat Taiwan 2-0 and Vietnam edged India 2-1 with a goal in
stoppage time on Wednesday.
In Group A, Australia, which beat war-scarred Iran 4-0 on Thursday, and South
Korea have already qualified. Australia and South Korea, which beat the
Philippines 3-0, will meet in Sydney on Sunday to determine top spot in the
group.
After back-to-back losses, Iran needs a big win over the Philippines (0-2) on
Sunday to have any chance of advancing to the quarterfinals and qualifying for
next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil.
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