The AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022 is gearing up for its finale on Sunday, with eight-time champions China taking on South Korea in the final for the first time at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. China is heading for a record-expanding ninth continental championship, while South Korea will be looking for glory for the first time in its history. South Korea have been rewarded for their persistence as they make it to the finals for the first time after 13 consecutive appearances in the tournament.
China will be led by their head coach Shui Qingxia, himself a five-time winner of the competition. South Korea’s head coach Colin Bell, on the other hand, led FFC Frankfurt to the 2015 UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
Bell said in a pre-match press conference that the team had no injuries and would be able to field their best 11. He continued, “I don’t need to teach Ji So-eun how to play, the aim here is to build up the endurance, fitness and confidence of these players.”
He said that this South Korean team is a team full of confidence. “This Republic of Korea team has a great future ahead of them. They have instilled good values, principles and are highly active as players – both tactically and personally. He has the confidence to start any match and it is in his DNA. I believe they are well prepared.”
Qingxia conceded that facing South Korea would be “a difficult” team. “We have very little time to prepare and adjust not only on the game but also mentally,” she said.
“We gained a lot of confidence as a team after qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This was a feat that was only possible because of the hard work of the coaching staff, especially in China PR.
“We must work hard to reach new heights. This is a good start for us. A fresh start,” she said.
The final will be preceded by a final playoff between Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, which will decide who takes the fifth and final direct AFC spot at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand.
The second team in the competition was Thailand but they were eliminated from the race after losing to both Vietnam and Taipei. Taipei can afford to draw this game and still qualify for the World Cup due to their superior goal difference. They have made a showpiece event for Vietnam once before, if they overtake Taipei, it will be the first time.
The team that lost the match will join Thailand in next year’s Intercontinental Playoff tournament.
road to final
China
Semifinals: beat Japan 2-2 (4-3 on penalties)
Quarter Finals: beat Vietnam 3-1
Collective Forum: Chinese beat Taipei 4-0, beat Iran 7-0
South Korea
Semifinals: beat Philippines 2-0
Quarter Finals: beat Australia 1-0
Collective Forum: beat Vietnam 3-0, beat Myanmar 2-0, drew 1-1 with Japan
face to face
China has a better record in meetings between these two sides and is unbeaten in their last seven matches with South Korea. In their last meeting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers, China saw South Korea take on the best of two stages. The last time these two sides met in the Asian Cup, China defeated South Korea 2–1 in the third-place playoff of the 2014 tournament.
what to expect
This match is likely to be a tactical battle in which both Qingxia and Bale know what is at stake. The weakest defense of the tournament, South Korea, will go up against China, the most clinical side in the competition.
South Korea have kept a clean sheet in their last two matches and their keeper Kim Jong-mi has scored only one goal in the entire tournament. China, on the other hand, has 23.2 percent shot conversion, the highest in the competition.
In terms of creating opportunities, South Korea has to be mindful of the threat posed to China. In the Asian Cup, Xiao Yui, Zhang Xin and Wang Shuang got three assists each. Also his talisman has been China captain Wang Shanshan, who has scored in each of his five matches. Not only did he score the equalizer in the 119th minute that took the semi-finals to penalties, he also scored a winning spot kick in the shoot-out.
However, Shanshan and China will be headed by South Korea’s No 10 Ji So-eun, who is currently one of the best players in the world. Despite a club career full of praise, the Chelsea midfielder has never won a continental title since making his national team debut in 2006 and will be hungry for it. His stunner against Australia is one of four goals scored in the tournament, including three Player of the Match awards.
Estimated Line-UPS
China: Zhu Yu, Ma Jun, Zhang Xin, Wang Shanshan, Zhang Linyan, Wang Xiaoxue, Lo Jiahui, Wu Chengshu, Tang Jialli, Wang Shuang, Zhang Rui.
South Korea: Kim Jong Mi, Choo Hyoju, Shim Seo-yeon, Lim Seonju, Lee Yangju, Kim Hyri, Cho So-hyun, Ji So-eun, Lee Geumin, Choeuri, Son Hyun.
Telecast and Streaming Details
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 China vs South Korea final will be telecast on Eurosport HD and the match can be streamed live on the Discovery Plus app.
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