Over a thrilling week of action at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, Japan dazzled as Australia struggled, China PR’s pedigree shone through and Uzbekistan remain on course for a maiden appearance at the global finals.
For the final time, before a standalone tournament is introduced, the continental showpiece doubles as the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifiers and with the group stage concluded, Brazil 2027 hopes are set to go on the line over the next week.
The 12-nation tournament now heads into the quarter-final stage, where four of the AFC’s six direct berths to Brazil 2027 will be settled, with the winners securing their passage to South America.
Those quarter-finals clashes are as follows:
13 March: Australia v Korea DPR
14 March: China PR v Chinese Taipei
14 March: Korea Republic v Uzbekistan
15 March: Japan v Philippines
The four quarter-final losers will then head into a pair of play-in matches to decide the remaining two direct berths. The two nations that lose those fixtures will still have a further chance of Women’s World Cup qualification via the Play-Off Tournament.
FIFA recaps a dramatic week of action in Australia and looks ahead to some blockbuster last eight match-ups.
Many had tipped the hometown Matildas to top this section but they were ultimately pipped at the post by an impressive Korea Republic side. Although they finished level on points, a 3-3 draw between the pair on the final matchday saw Korea top the section courtesy of a one-goal superior differential.
Targeting back-to-back qualification, after their maiden appearance three years ago in Australia/New Zealand, the Philippines managed to sneak into the quarters as one of the best third-placed sides. That came largely thanks to a 2-0 win against IR Iran in the final group outing that sees head coach Mark Torcaso become one of three Australia coaches to have steered a side into the quarters at this tournament.
As expected the two continental heavyweights both comfortably advanced, with record nine-time continental queens China PR impressing in topping the section. Their final-day showdown with global youth conquerors Korea DPR proved decisive as goals from the impressive left-back Chen Qiaozhu and star forward Wang Shuang handed them a 2-1 win in Sydney.
Uzbekistan continued their dramatic rise and remain on course to make a maiden Women’s World Cup outing after they downed Bangladesh 4-0 on the final matchday to secure one of the two best third-place finishes.
Japan were superb in winning all three group matches without really needing to break a sweat. A squad packed with stars at some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Manchester City trio Yui Hasegawa, Aoba Fujino and Ayaka Yamashita, brushed aside their group opponents with ease. Not only do they loom as clear favourites to win the continental title but also as among the main contenders for the global one in a year’s time.
Chinese Taipei bounced back from a first-up defeat against the Nadeshiko to down both Vietnam and then India and finish as group runners-up and will remain confident of a return to the global stage after what is approaching a four-decade absence.
Quarter-finals
After both nations impressed in first-up wins, this was a match-up that many had pegged as being a possible title decider. Instead Australia and Korea DPR now clash with a direct Brazilian berth at stake.
The Matildas struggled in a final group outing stalemate with Korea Republic and likewise Korea DPR were far from their fluent best in defeat to China at the same point of the tournament.
As is his want, maverick Korean coach Ri Song-ho has made plenty of unusually-timed substitutions and also named the same starting XI for each of his nation’s three matches. The Matildas meanwhile have been boosted by the return to full fitness of Mary Fowler although Steph Catley is a concern as she deals with concussion issues.
The hosts will be hoping that the unexpected final third contributions from defender Alanna Kennedy – currently joint top of the scoring charts with four goals – can continue in this heavyweight showdown in Western Australia.
One of the stories of the group stage was the return to prominence of a China PR side that had struggled in recent times to live up to their billing as the record nine-time Asian title holders. Ante Milicic’s side made it a perfect three wins from as many matches in the group stage and look to have unearthed a new midfield star in the form of the impressive 20-year-old central controller Wang Aifang.
They will face a Chinese Taipei side looking to return to the global stage for the just the second time, with their only previous outing being at the maiden edition in 1991. Narrow wins over Vietnam and India, spearheaded by goals in those back-to-back victories from star China-based forward Su Yu-Hsuan, on the books of Henan, powered the team into the last eight.
Having pipped the Matildas to the Group A summit, Korea Republic will be confident of keeping their positive run going and punching a ticket to what would be a fourth straight edition of the global finals.
Standing in their way are an Uzbekistan team that are not only bidding to reach a maiden edition of the Women’s World Cup but are also in the knockout stage of the continental showpiece for the first time. After back-to-back defeats against Korea DPR and China in the group stage, a resounding 4-0 win against Bangladesh saw the side led by 33-year-old Kotryna Kulbyte qualify as one of the best third-placed finishers.
Japan were ruthless in marching through the group stage with three straight wins, a trio of clean sheets and 17 goals scored and loom as clearly the team to beat in the race for continental honours. In this tussle for a ticket to South America, it will take an almighty effort to slow the likes of Fuka Nagano, Yui Hasegawa and Momoko Tanikawa, all of whom have been superb over the past week down under, although injured defender Rion Ishikawa has left the squad.
The Philippines managed to sneak through to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed sides and will be looking to sharpen their creative and scoring threat, having only mustered a combined four shots during opening group-stage defeats against Australia and Korea Republic.
Selected images courtesy of the AFC
