Chinese Women Soccer Team Beats S. Korea 5-2

China's World Cup runners-up team routed South Korea 5-2 on Sunday as the "She-Devils" started their campaign to emphasize their dominance in the 12th Asian Women's Football Championship at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City in the southern Philippines.

With the field relatively soggy from Saturday's rains, the Chinese women sliced through the inexperienced South Korean's defenses to grab the upper-hand after they were held to 1-1 in the opening minutes of play.

After Kang Sung-mi equalized in less than a minute for the South Koreans, Liu Ying, the leading scorer in the World Cup, and her teammates Sun Wen and Zhang Ouying retaliated quickly to practically decide the game.

Liu scored on the 31st, followed by Sun Wen on the 41st and Zhang Ouying added on one more just the first half ended in the 45th minute.

Liu added on more on the 71st and Kang Sung-mi converted on the 76th for the final score.

Meanwhile, DPR Korea and the Chinese Taipei overwhelmed separate rivals Sunday in Iloilo City in the southern Philippines.

DPR Korea crushed India, 7-0, while Chinese Taipei were even impressive in mauling Malaysia, 16-0, as both squads picked up their first wins in Group A of this tournament organized by the Philippine Football Federation.

The solidly built DPR Koreans, a Women's World Cup qualifier and runners-up to the Chinese in the 1997 Asian title in Guangzhou, China, virtually settle the issue in the fast and furious first half as Ri Hyang-ok opened the scoring with goals in the eighth and 20th minutes.

Indian goalkeeper Binasori Devi never had a respite after that and the score would have been bigger if not for her timely saves in the face of superior opposition.

Still, DPR Korean coach Kim Mun-choi was not too elated with the outcome, saying "we still have to work hard on our teamwork."

Striker Pak Jong-ae knocked in her second goal in the 55th minute, completing a 180-degree turn to elude several Indian defenders to blast in from the center just atop the penalty box before Jin Pyol-hui and O Kum-ran closed out the lopsided match with Goals in the 77th and 86th minutes, respectively.

"My team has only been training for a month. And we're accustomed to playing on a hard ground, not the soft pitch that you have. But our rival is definitely one of the favorites," said Indian coach Gosh Kwantala.

Chinese Taipei were even more relentless against a hapless Malaysian side as prolific forward Lin Chi led the charge with four goals in the first half to power her team to a 10-0 halftime lead.

Asked to explain why they were too score-conscious, coach Chang Ming Shen said they were keen on reaching the semifinals and wanted to avoid the playoff complications.

Host Philippines opens its campaign against Nepal in Group C at 3:30 p.m. Monday following the 1:45 p.m. match pitting Japan against Thailand.


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