Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Amman: Korea Republic shrugged off the disappointment of group stage elimination to qualify for a second successive FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating the Philippines 5-0 in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018’s play-off for fifth place on Monday.
Yoon Duk-yeo’s side will join Australia, Japan, China PR and Thailand as Asian representatives in December’s France 2019 draw after a brace to captain Cho So-hyun and goals to Jang Sel-gi, Lee Min-a, Lim Seon-joo and Cho So-hyun sealed a comprehensive victory.
It was the end of the Philippines’ World Cup odyssey, which began 379 days earlier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and took the Malditas the closest they have ever come to reaching the global finals, only to fall at the final hurdle.
Following highly creditable displays against both Australia and Japan, Korea Republic were heavily favoured to prevail in the cutthroat play-off, and took the early initiative despite losing Jung Seol-bin to injury in the opening minutes.
Jung’s replacement, Choe Yu-ri, came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute, having two attempts at goal blocked within a matter of seconds during a goalmouth scramble, as the Southeast Asians doggedly fought to keep their dream alive.
Philippines goalkeeper Kearra Bastes-Jones produced a number of excellent saves to keep the sides level, but after 34 minutes of Korean dominance, it seemed only a matter of time until the East Asians scored, and when they did, it was a goal worth waiting for.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/korea-philippines-actions.html
ALBUM: Philippines v Korea Republic - #WAC2018