East Asian sides North Korea and China opened their campaign at the AFC Women\u2019s Asian in Sydney with comprehensive victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea set a perfect tone for their campaign with a 3-0 defeat of Uzbekistan in their Group B fixture at the Western Sydney Stadium. China began their title defence in positive fashion after securing a 2-0 win against debutants Bangladesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A hat-trick from Myong Yu-jong secured the three-time champions a dream start as North Korea marked their return to the continental stage for the first time since 2010 with a commanding display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The East Asians wasted no time in asserting their attacking intent, opening the scoring as early as the sixth minute. Yu-jong capitalised on Chae Un Yong\u2019s cross from the right after Kim Kyong Yong\u2019s low header had been blocked by the Uzbekistan defence, guiding the rebound into the top left corner of the net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uzbekistan were dealt a second blow soon after, when they were forced into an early change in goal. Maftuna Jonimqulova sustained an injury following a clash with teammate Madina Khikmatova while attempting to clear the ball, prompting the introduction of substitute goalkeeper Zarina Saidova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saidova had to endure a difficult start to her unexpected appearance as in the 20th minute, Chae Un Yong won a penalty for Ri Hong So\u2019s side after being pushed inside the box by Zarina Mamatkarimova. Yu-jong stepped up and made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the left corner to double her tally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite holding a 2-0 advantage, North Korea showed no signs of easing their intensity and continued to press high inside Uzbekistan\u2019s half, leaving Yu Son Gum in the Yu-jong Korea goal largely untroubled for much of the opening period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uzbekistan\u2019s woes worsened when in the 40th minute, the East Asians were awarded a second penalty following a VAR review that confirmed a handball by Khikmatova. Completing her hat-trick, midfielder Yu-jong once again stepped up and dispatched her effort with precision into the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kortyna Kulbyte\u2019s side found brief respite in the 43rd minute when Saidova reacted sharply to fist away Ri Myong Gum\u2019s left-footed effort, preventing the deficit from growing further before the break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The East Asians emerged from the break in a similar spirit, once again keeping the Uzbek defence under sustained pressure, although the backline looked more settled as they blocked several attacks into the box from the side in red. The Uzbek custodian, however, was put to work almost immediately, forced into two quick saves before five minutes of the second half had elapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A barrage of free-kicks from both flanks kept the Central Asian side busy, whose first meaningful venture into the opposition half arrived just past the hour mark, when captain Lyudmila Karachik\u2019s through ball briefly threatened to test Yu at the North Korea goalline before she gathered it safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With 10 minutes still on the clock, substitute Ri Song-A made another attempt to add her name to the scoreline, but her right-footed shot from the centre of the box soared just over the crossbar, leaving the scoreline unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea will next face Bangladesh in Sydney on Friday, with Uzbekistan squaring off against China PR on the same day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, two first half goals earned the nine-time champions China the winning start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China signalled their intentions with a couple of early efforts from Liu Jing, a volley from outside the box that bounced just wide before the midfielder sent a shot straight at Bangladesh custodian Mile Akter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The East Asian side went close in the 12th minute when Wang Aifang released Wang Shuang into the box but the midfielder\u2019s fiercely-hit attempt was pushed away by Akter, with a follow-up header from Jin Kun\u2019s cross bouncing off the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bangladesh, however, reminded China PR of their threat on the break as Ritu Porna Chakma beat the offside trap two minutes later and produced a lob from 30 yards that a backtracking Chen Chen just managed to tip over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the other end, Wang Shuang did plant the ball into the back of the net with a header in the 24th minute but the effort was chalked off after a VAR review found Jin Kun offside in the buildup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wang Shuang, however, was not to be denied in the 44th minute, finishing Zhang Chengxue\u2019s pass with a scorching shot with her weaker foot into the top of the net.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ante Milicic\u2019s side doubled their advantage in the first minute of added time when Akter\u2019s weak punch fell kindly into the path of Zhang Rui, whose low strike could not be kept out by Afeida Khandaker on the goalline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bangladesh\u2019s improvement after the interval meant that China had to look for other avenues to increase their lead with two Chengxue headers from corner kicks threatening to add to the score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chengxue then took advantage of a mistake by Porna Chakma in the 68th minute to win possession just outside the box but her thunderous strike was palmed away by a fully-stretched Akter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Substitute Zhang Xin clipped the top of the crossbar direct from her corner delivery with nine minutes of regulation time left to play but it didn’t matter as China PR comfortably saw out the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China will go in search of a second victory when they take on Uzbekistan on Friday with Bangladesh facing another tough fixture against DPR Korea.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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