China PR displayed immense determination to bounce back from a first-minute deficit to beat Australia 2-1 on Saturday to finish third in the Championship for a fourth time.

Despite their respective teams' missing out on a place in the 2020 FIFA U-17 World Cup India, both coaches were extremely satisfied that the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 gave the players valuable experience.

Second half goals from Shi Xiaomin and Zou Mengyao completed the China comeback after Australia had taken the lead with less than a minute played through Hana Lowry.

Two goals in four first-half minutes from Suzu Amano and Manaka Hayashi helped Japan overturn an early Hong Song-ok penalty and end DPR Korea’s four-match winning run in the tournament.

The win makes Japan the first nation to win the competition four times, as head coach Michihsia Kano’s charges followed on from previous successes at the U-17 level in 2005, and U-16 triumphs in 2011 and 2013.

While Japan claimed the title, both nations will represent Asia at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020.

Teammate Maika Hamano, meanwhile, won the Top Scorer award to cap a successful tournament for Japan, who lifted the trophy for the first time since 2013.

As Japan, China PR, DPR Korea and Australia prepare for Wednesday’s semi-finals, the-AFC.com looks at six talented youngsters who have shone on the big stage in Chonburi.

The Committee, chaired by Mahfuza Ahkter Kiron, met ahead of Saturday’s AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Thailand 2019 final, which will see DPR Korea compete against Japan in Chonburi.

Following their 2018 recommendation of the establishment of an AFC women’s club competition, the Committee agreed on a series of competition regulations, with the pilot edition, set to involve the champion clubs from four Member Associations - Australia, China PR, Japan and Korea Republic - to be staged on a round-robin basis from November 26 to 30, 2019.

The agreement follows a process involving the input of both the AFC Technical Division and AFC Competitions Department, with the AFC Women’s Club Championship considered a vital step forward in women’s club football throughout the Continent.