[Photo/Xinhua]
China's women's football team has booked its spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after drawing 2-2 with South Korea after extra time in the second leg of Asian Qualification playoffs (亚洲区预选赛附加赛第二回合) here on Tuesday. Chinese star player Wang Shuang contributed one goal and one assist as the Steel Roses came from 2-0 behind to beat South Korea 4-3 on aggregate in the Olympic Qualification playoffs.
"The match was even harder than I expected. I would like to thank all my players for not giving up when we were 0-2 behind. As long as they can carry on the spirit, I believe that our team will become better and better," Chinese head coach Jia Xiuquan said.
Going into the match 2-1 down from the first leg (第一回合), the South Koreans took high-pressure tactics from the front and was in a dominant position in the first half. They broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Kang Chae-rim scored after a precise cross from Cho So-hyun.
In the last minute of the first half, Chinese goalkeeper Peng Shimeng saved a close-range header (头球) from a corner, but couldn't keep the ball out of the net from a rebound shot. The goal was first credited to South Korean forward Choe Yu-ri, but the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) later ruled it as Chinese defender Li Mengwen's own goal.
Coach Jia changed his tactics in the second half as Yang Man came off the bench and became the turning point of the match. The 1.86-meter center forward controlled the majority of long balls and headed home a free kick (任意球) from Wang in the 68th minute.
"The only thing we could do then was to fight bravely. I made some changes at the half break. My players carried out the plan well," Jia noted. "My players were under great pressure, I am very proud of what they did on the field ."
[Article/Xinhua]