Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
West Bank: Chinese Taipei began their AFC Women's Asian Cup Jordan 2018 Group C win over Palestine on Wednesday, a victory that sets up a winner takes all clash with table-topping Thailand on Friday.
Michelle Pao bagged a brace, while Yu Hsiu-chin scored once in the first half, before completing her hat-trick after the break.
With only one ticket available to next year’s finals, the East Asians now trail Thailand on goal difference, following the Southeast Asian nation’s 6-0 thrashing of qualifying hosts Palestine.
Chinese Taipei started brightly, and it was they who opened the scoring in the second minute when Michelle Pao seized on a defensive error to fire home.
Yu added a second just four minutes later after she rounded Palestine goalkeeper Anwar Al Shaikh, before Pao notched a third with a fine drive from the edge of the area.
With Al Shaikh in fine form, Palestine hit back early in the second half, Natali Shaheen fizzing a shot narrowly over the Chinese Taipei bar.
However, Chinese Taipei grabbed their fourth of the game on 66 minutes, Yu finding the target with a simple finish, and the livewire midfielder duly notched her third of the game via a penalty with 20 minutes remaining.
Photo: Palestinian Football Association