Japan 2-0 South Africa

All of the scoring came in the first half, with Olympique Lyonnais star Saki Kumagai notching a rare international goal in the 20th minute before Yuika Sugasawa added a second four minutes before half time.

Japan’s success follows last month’s 4-0 success over Canada, as the Asian champions look to challenge for medals in their home Olympics next August.

A total 20,029 fans saw the Matildas captain guide her side to victory in their first outing since the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, opening the scoring in the third minute before adding a second in the 72nd minute, only for Camila Sáez to pull a goal back as Chile mounted a late challenge.

Ante Milicic’s side will meet the Chileans again in Adelaide on Tuesday, before turning their attention to February’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualifiers.

Reigning AFC Women’s Player of the Year Wang Shuang scored both goals for the Steel Roses, who prevailed in their first game since their FIFA Women’s World Cup exit in June.

Earlier, Brazil booked their place in the weekend’s decider with a 4-0 thumping of Canada, who suffered their second heavy defeat on Asian soil in as many months after October’s 4-0 loss to Japan.

The side will travel to Busan for next month’s tournament, where they will face Korea Republic, Japan and China PR as a replacement team for DPR Korea, who withdrew from the event this week.

Chinese Taipei will appear in the final stage of the competition for the first time since 2010 having finished second in last December’s Second Preliminary Round, where they defeated both Hong Kong and Mongolia before losing 2-0 to China PR.

Australian striker Kerr scored Chicago’s decisive eighth-minute goal after a sublime pass from Japanese 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Nagasato, continuing the seemingly telepathic understanding between the pair, who respectively lead the league for scoring and assists.

Kerr’s goal was her 19th of the NWSL season, while Nagasato’s defence-splitting assist was the ninth of the campaign for the 32-year-old, with eight of them having been converted by Kerr.

Group A will have DPR Korea, hosts Korea Republic, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Group B pitted Australia, hosts China PR, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.

Bell, 58, is Korea Republic’s first foreign women’s national team coach after signing a three-year deal, which lasts until the conclusion of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The appointment ends the search for a full-time successor to former coach Yoon Duk-yeo - who took the side to the past two FIFA Women’s World Cups – after former player Hwang In-sun served as interim boss during this month’s tour of the United States, which included a creditable 1-1 draw against the world champions.