China came from behind to edge North Korea 2-1 in their AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup match in Australia on Monday to finish as the Group C winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uzbekistan advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win against Bangladesh in their concluding Group B tie on Monday.\u00a0 The Central Asian side, appearing in the continental showpiece for the first time in 23 years, went for broke from the first blow of the whistle at the Perth Rectangular Stadium and were deserving winners as they booked a spot in the knockout stage as one of the two best third-placed sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China will next take on the runners-up of Group C in the quarter-finals while North Korea will meet Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea\u2019s Ri Song Ho maintained the same starting XI for the third consecutive match while Ante Milicic – having mixed and matched in the opening two games – selected his strongest with Wu Haiyan in defence and Wang Shuang in attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was an early scare for North Korea when Le Thi Ly was asked to review a knee-high challenge from Kim Song Gyong on Shao Ziqin but the referee opted to only show the yellow card to the midfielder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The evenly-fought contest on a wet Western Sydney Stadium pitch took time to get going but from their first meaningful attack, North Korea found the breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Han Jin Hong surged clear on the right before cutting back for Kim Kyong Yong to sweep home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China were not behind for long, levelling the tie two minutes later when North Korea were unable to clear their lines following a corner kick with Ziqin teeing up Chen Qiaozhu to slam a low shot past Yu Son Gum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just when the match looked set to go into the break on level terms, China struck in added time when they beat North Korea\u2019s offside trap from a Yao Wei free-kick, with Zhang Chengxue squaring the ball for Wang Shuang to steer in from close range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second half proved to be a more cagey affair with Hong Song Ok shooting from range but straight at Chen Chen while at the other end, Ziqin\u2019s effort took a double deflection before bouncing just wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea thought they had found the equaliser in the 80th minute from a Choe Il Son tap-in but Kim Hye Yong had received the ball in an offside position before passing to the former.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was the closest North Korea came to an equaliser as Haiyan and club teammate Yao Wei shut the door in defence to clinch a perfect group stage campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uzbekistan, who needed victory to stand to advance as one of the two best third-placed teams, almost got off to a bright start in the opening minute when Ilvina Ablyakimova laid the ball nicely for Lyudmila Karachik who, however, sent her long-range effort wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another quick transition in the sixth minute released Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva down the middle but Bangladesh custodian Mile Akter raced off the line to absorb Khabibullaeva\u2019s low effort from inside the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Central Asian\u2019s high press put them in a dangerous position three minutes later when Mile\u2019s high boot caught an advancing Khabibullaeva outside the box but Karachik failed to convert the ensuing free-kick, sending it wide of the right post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bangladesh, however, conceded a minute later when Kudratova\u2019s through ball released Khabibullaeva, whose low drive clipped Akter\u2019s glove before settling into the bottom left corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal failed to dampen Bangladesh\u2019s spirit as they gave Uzbekistan a scare at the half-hour mark when Tohura Khatun slipped a neat through ball for Ritu Chakma, who forced Uzbekistan keeper Maftuna Jonimqulova to palm away her curling effort from distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another effort went begging for Bangladesh in the 42nd minute when Khatun pounced on an errant back pass from Gulzoda Amirova before laying it off for Kohati Kisku but her shot from inside the box was blocked by Maftuna Shoyimova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bangladesh returned with purpose after the break with Anika Siddiqui missing with her shot from distance, while Ritu Chakma\u2019s tame drive was easily collected by Jonimqulova in the 50th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, their high-pressing game cost them in the 62nd minute with Karachik releasing Umida Zoirova on the left, who set up substitute Dildora Nozimova for an easy tap-in into the unattended goalmouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their third goal came in similar circumstances when they caught Bangladesh’s high backline, Solikha Khusniddinova releasing Khabibullaeva to relay the back to Nozimova for a simple finish past Akter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Asalkhon Aminjonova was denied Uzbekistan\u2019s fourth in the 70th minute following a VAR review, Bangladesh were denied their first goal of the tournament after Sauravi Prity\u2019s curling drive was parried away by Jonimqulova in the 82nd minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their fourth finally arrived six minutes later when Zoirova nodded down Shoyimova\u2019s cross for Kudratova, who controlled the ball beautifully before drilling her shot into the back of the net.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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