In a high-stakes Group B finale at the Women’s Asian Cup, defending champions China secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over North Korea in a physically intense match at Western Sydney Stadium on Monday. The result positions China atop the group standings while setting North Korea for a quarterfinal confrontation against tournament hosts Australia in Perth this Friday.
The match marked North Korea’s return to the tournament after their 2010 final loss to Australia, requiring only a draw to claim group supremacy. Their ambitions seemed attainable when Kim Kyong Yong broke the deadlock with a clinical counter-attack finish in the 32nd minute—the game’s first shot on target.
China’s response was immediate and spectacular. Just two minutes later, Chen Qiaozhu unleashed a breathtaking strike through defensive traffic from the edge of the penalty area, leveling the score with her powerful equalizer.
The match turned decisively in first-half stoppage time when Wang Shuang’s goal underwent VAR review after initially being flagged for offside. The video assistant referee overturned the on-field decision, awarding China the crucial go-ahead goal. The controversial ruling sparked vehement protests from the North Korean bench, resulting in a yellow card for coach Ri Song Ho and delayed the team’s return to the pitch for the second half.
Both sides created significant opportunities after the break. North Korean goalkeeper Yu Son Gum made a spectacular full-stretch save to deny Wang Shuang in the 78th minute, while 19-year-old substitute Choe Il Son saw her apparent equalizer nullified by another VAR offside review minutes later.
China, guided by former Australian women’s team coach Ante Milicic, now advances as group winners seeking their record-extending tenth Asian Cup title. The tournament format sees the top two teams from each group plus the two best third-place finishers progress to the quarterfinals.