Taeguek Nangja defeat Myanmar to stay perfect

Korea Republic women’s national team beat Myanmar to stay on course to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022.

Colin Bell’s side claimed a 2-0 win in their second match of Group C against Myanmar at Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India on Monday, thanks to second-half goals from Lee Geummin and Ji Soyun. Korea Republic will take on Japan in their final group game on Thursday.

Should tournament favourites Japan defeat Vietnam later in another Group C fixture this evening, Korea Republic are guaranteed a top two finish and therefore through to the quarter-finals. In this edition of the continental finals, a total of 12 teams are divided into three groups of four teams, with top two sides from each group as well as the two third-placed teams with best results advancing to the last eight.

These finals also act as the Asian qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Top five teams will reach the world finals, with another ticket to be given to the sixth-placed team should Australia finish within top five.

Bell rested his ace Ji Soyun on the bench to test different combinations in central midfield, where left-back Jang Selgi was deployed in an experimental position.

Choo Hyojoo, Son Hwayeon and Choe Yuri led the three-pronged attack, supported by Cho Sohyun, Jang Selgi and Lee Geummin. Shim Seoyeon, Lee Youngju, Lim Seonjoo and Kim Hyeri at the back – notably, defensive midfielder Lee Youngju was given her second start as a centre back in as many games in this tournament – and Kim Jungmi between the sticks.

Korea Republic seized control from the outset, making no fewer than nine attempts on goal in the first half. Most of the shot were coming from Cho, who glanced a header just wide in the first minute. The midfield dynamo connected a Son free-kick from the left with another header that hit the side netting on 26 minutes.

Bell then responded with an early substitution, bringing captain Ji on for Son – who had already received a yellow card – after 35 minutes, as Lee Geummin moved up front as a centre forward.

The switch paid dividends almost immediately, with the Koreans coming tantalisingly close to scoring on the stroke of half-time. Cho chested down a long ball from midfield to backheel the ball to Jang, who passed the ball through to Choo on the left. The diminutive winger fired a shot straight at the goalkeeper, before Jang latched on to the rebound to see her effort denied from close range.

The deadlock was finally broken five minutes into the second half. Yet again, Cho nodded a long ball from midfield down into the path of Lee Geummin, who calmly controlled the ball to fire home with her right foot. It was her first goal in six games since the Asian Cup qualifier against Mongolia in September last year.

One goal was not enough for the Taegeuk Nangja. Jang Selgi’s audacious lob from midfield fell on the upper side of the crossbar, before Choo and Ji kept knocking on Myanmar’s door in vain. Lee Geummin dragged a powerful shot from the right side of the area, but the keeper did well to stop the bleeding.

Despite a series of missed opportunities to score, their attack-minded approach finally paid off as they went further ahead on 83 minutes. Kim Hyeri’s cross from the right was headed goalwards by Ji near the opposite post. The ball skimmed past a Myanmar player before going over the line, as the referee awarded the goal for Korea Republic.

Korea Republic kept on dominating the game in the remaining time to claim their second victory.

AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022

Group C

Myanmar 0-2 Korea Republic

Scorers: Lee Geummin 50’, Ji Soyun 84’

KOR: Kim Jungmi; Shim Seoyeon (Park Yeeun 82’), Lee Youngju, Lim Seonjoo, Kim Hyeri; Cho Sohyun, Jang Selgi, Lee Geummin; Choo Hyojoo, Son Hwayeon (Ji Soyun 34’), Choe Yuri (Lee Mina 72’)