On March 9, Beijing time, the Chinese women’s football team ushered in the final group match of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
Against the strong North Korean women's football team, the Chinese women's football team won 2-1.
The Chinese women's football team is in the same group as Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and North Korea women's football team in this Asian Cup. In the previous two rounds, the Chinese women's football team first defeated Bangladesh 2-0 and then defeated Uzbekistan 3-0.
After winning two consecutive games, the Chinese women's football team has already secured a place in the group and has been shortlisted for the quarterfinals of this Asian Cup. However, in the final group match against the North Korean women's football team, the Chinese women's football team still needs to go all out.
This dialogue will directly determine who can become the top player in the group. If they win the first place, they can face a relatively weaker opponent (most likely Chinese Taipei) in the quarterfinals. If they only finish second in the group, they will compete with the host Australian women's football team.
In the first two rounds, the North Korean women's football team scored 8 goals, surpassing the Chinese women's football team's 5 goals. Therefore, if they want to win the first place in the group, the Chinese women's football team must win this head-on dialogue. This is the first tough battle the team has encountered so far in this Asian Cup.
The team is also looking forward to this game. Head coach Milicic said bluntly, "We have conducted a detailed analysis of our opponents and will prepare as many details as possible. I believe the girls can stay calm and focused."
"We need to stand in our position first and be brave enough to ask for the ball and meet our teammates. Everyone must understand that it is normal to make mistakes in such a high-intensity game. We will also deploy in a targeted manner and believe that we can gain some control over the game."
The starting lineup sent by the Chinese women's football team in this game is different from the previous two games: goalkeeper Chen Chen, defenders Wu Haiyan, Yao Wei, Chen Qiaozhu, Zhang Chengxue, midfielders Wang Aifang, Zhang Rui, Zhang Linyan, Wang Shuang, forwards Urigumula and Shao Ziqin.
After the opening, the two sides fought fiercely. Shao Ziqin was kicked to the knee by his opponent and fell to the ground. However, after reviewing the video, the referee did not show a red card and only showed a yellow card to North Korean player Kim Sung-kyung.
Subsequently, the Chinese women's football team relied on active pressure and running to create threats, but failed to create very good scoring opportunities. In the 32nd minute, the North Korean team launched a long pass to the frontcourt. Han Jinhong sent a cross pass from the bottom, and Jin Jingying outflanked the ball in the middle to score the goal.
Under adversity, the Chinese women's football team responded immediately. Just two minutes later, the Chinese women's football team took a corner kick. Shao Ziqin responded from the middle. Chen Qiaozhu hit the opponent's goal with a powerful volley, tying the score at 1-1.
In half-time stoppage time, the Chinese women's football team had a set-piece opportunity in the frontcourt, and Wang Shuang received a cross pass and scored. After a VAR review, the referee determined that the ball was not offside, and the Chinese women's football team took a 2-1 lead.
North Korea coach Ri Sung-ho also received a yellow card because he was dissatisfied with the penalty.
In the 80th minute of the second half, substitute Choi Il-sun scored a goal for the North Korean team. Later, VAR intervened and determined that Choi Il-sun and Kim Hye-young, who assisted, were offside, and the goal was invalid.
In the end, the Chinese women's football team maintained the winning score until the end and qualified first in the group.
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2026 Women's Asian Cup
