China seal Group B top spot, DPRK to face Japan in quarters
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 23, 2018
China PR ended a six-game winless streak against DPR Korea, beating their East Asian neighbours 2-0 to top Group B at the 2018 Asian Games Indonesia women's football tournament in a result that could have far-reaching consequences for both sides' medal hopes.
In the group's other fixture, Hong Kong ensured they would be the eighth and final side to qualify for the quarter-finals with a 6-1 win over winless Tajikistan.
The quarter-finals, to be played on Friday and Saturday, will see Korea Republic playing Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei against Vietnam, Japan facing 2014 champions DPR Korea and China PR meeting Thailand.
While both sides were assured of progression to the knockout stage before the match at the Gelora Siriwijaya Stadium began, Jia Xiuquan's side knew that a win was required to avoid a quarter-final clash with Asian champions Japan.
Not since February 2014 had the Steel Roses conquered DPR Korea, but the first indication of a change in their fortune came as early as the eighth minute, when Li Ying supplied Paris Saint-Germain-bound playmaker Wang Shuang, who duly made it 1-0.
In a group where the top two sides had racked up a combined total of 47 goals on the first two matchdays, scoring chances were at a relative premium, and most of them were China PR's.
Despite an usually lopsided tally of shots on goal, the score remained 1-0 at half-time, but less than five minutes into the second period Wang Shanshan headed home a second goal - her 11th in three matches in Indonesia - to give her side crucial breathing space.
Despite their best efforts, DPR Korea's search for a way back into the contest was ultimately fruitless, with Zhao Rong's 92nd-minute sending off for a second bookable offence the largest of China PR's worries.
DPR Korea's defeat puts them on a quarter-final collision course with Asian champions Japan on Saturday, in a match that will see one of the two highest ranked sides in the competition eliminated before the medal rounds.
With the confidence of 25 group stage goals scored, and none conceded, under their belts, China PR will meet the Thailand side they beat twice at the AFC Women's Asian Cup just four months ago.
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