Defending champions China and North Korea advanced to the quarter-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup on Friday, picking up their second consecutive Group B victory as Uzbekistan and Bangladesh fell to back-to-back defeats.
China, chasing a record 10th title, beat Uzbekistan 3-0 with Li Qingtong scoring twice, after North Korea beat the tournament’s first winners 5-0 at the Western Sydney Stadium. The North Koreans have scored eight goals in two matches without conceding any.
China broke through against Uzbekistan’s defense on the half-hour mark, when Shao Ziqin calmly slotted a penalty into the bottom left corner after being brought down in the box.
Uzbekistan goalkeeper Maftuna Jonimqulova did well to save a number of close-range attempts from Shao and Zhang Linyan, but her luck ran out in the 51st minute when she collided with a teammate trying to block a cross, allowing Li to shoot into an empty net.
Li completed his scoring 26 minutes later, heading home Zhang Xin’s cross to give China a decisive victory.
Earlier, Bangladesh held off North Korea until the end of the first half with the three-time champions being denied two goals, but the floodgates opened in the dying minutes before the break, Myong Yu-jong and Kim Kyong-yong scoring two minutes apart.
