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Albufeira: China PR and Thailand rounded out a busy week on the road to FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 with placement match defeats, while DPR Korea earned silverware with a dramatic penalty shootout win against Italy in the Cyprus Women's Cup Final on Wednesday.

ALGARVE CUP

CHINA PR 1 NETHERLANDS 1 (NED won 4-2 on penalties)

China PR rounded out a difficult week in Portugal with a penalty shootout defeat after a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands to finish 12th out of 12 teams at the Algarve Cup in Portugal.


Yao Wei gave Jia Xiuquan's side hope when she scored to pull back Vivienne Miedema's opener, but shootout misses from both Yao and Wu Chengshu consigned the East Asians to defeat.

Miedema was a key figure throughout the tie for the Netherlands, hitting the woodwork with a header in the 24th minute, and forcing a strong low save from Peng Shimeng just moments later.

The Arsenal striker's persistence paid off just before half-time when she scored the simplest of tap-ins, giving the Oranje the lead and taking the 22-year-old's remarkable international goal tally 54.


 

China PR levelled when a precise Wang Shuang delivery from the left flank set up 21-year-old Yao for a 50th minute equaliser, before Lieke Martens and Xiao Yuyi missed sitters at either end as each side searched for a winner.

The Steel Roses were again saved by the crossbar when it denied Renate Jansen's curling 88th-minute strike, forcing the sides to settle the match from the penalty spot, where Yao and Wu's failure to convert was punished by Miedema who slotted the winning kick for her side.

The Algarve Cup was won by Norway, who defeated Poland 3-0 in the Final in Parchal.

CYPRUS WOMEN'S CUP

THAILAND 0-3 NIGERIA

Thailand's international struggles continued, as the Southeast Asians slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Nigeria in the playoff for seventh at the Cyprus Women's Cup.

Former Dalian Quanjian forward Asisat Oshoala led the way for Nigeria, scoring one goal and setting up another, as Thailand fell to a third successive defeat after their promising start to the tournament against Hungary.


 

Oshoala, now playing her trade with FC Barcelona, got the Super Falcons up and running when she teamed up with Francisca Ordega to score Nigeria's first goal on 23 minutes, and veteran defender Onome Ebi added a second goal just five minutes later.

Any chance of a Thai comeback was snuffed out when Oshoala supplied 18-year-old Anam Imno for the game's third and final goal with a quarter of an hour remaining, consigning the Southeast Asian's to their third successive loss in the tournament.

DPR KOREA 3 ITALY 3 (DPR won 7-6 on penalties)

Nine-woman DPR Korea remarkably defied their circumstances to win the Cyprus Women's Cup Final on penalties after an epic 3-3 draw after extra time against Italy.

Red cards to Kim Nam-ui in the 44th minute and Ri Hyang-sim in extra time meant DPR Korea were at a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the 120 minutes, but they managed to prevail for their first silverware since the 2017 EAFF E-1 Championship.

Italy opened the scoring through Juventus forward Cristiana Girelli, but goals from Kim Yun-mi and Ju Hyo-sim following set piece routines late in the first half had DPR Korea one goal up, but one player down after Kim received her marching orders for a second bookable offence.


 

In-form Daniela Sabatino forced an additional 30 minutes when shed headed home a dramatic Italian equaiiser in the 80th minute, but DPR regained the lead when Jon Yun-so scored from the penalty spot in the final minute of the first half of extra-time.

The task became even more difficult for the East Asian side when Ri was sent-off in the 109th minute, and Italy were level once again two minutes later when Valentina Cernola's attempted cross floated all the way in to level the tie for a third time.

Despite that blow, DPR Korea prevailed in a marathon penalty shootout, in which the first 13 spot kicks were all successful before Barbara Bonansera skied her effort to hand victory to Kim Kwang-min's side.

Photos: Chinese Football Association, Football Association of Thailand, DPR Korea Football Association, AFP


Source: the-afc.com

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