Beijing, 9 February 2022 (TDI): In an impressive feat, China beat South Korea 3-2 from two goals down in the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup. The match was played on Sunday night.
The final showdown was in Mumbai, India. This triumph made China win its record-extending 9th title ever since the last championship in 2006. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) stated that “If faith has a color, it must be China red!”
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! 🏆
From trailing behind South Korea by 0:2 to winning by 3:2, 🇨🇳China won in the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup final!
Proud of you! 🇨🇳Chinese girls! #WAC2022 #SteelRoses pic.twitter.com/d8nIh8RJ3T— 吴鹏 Wu Peng (@WuPeng_MFAChina) February 7, 2022
Chinese women’s national football team has won the championship for the ninth time 16 years later. The CFA nicknamed the soccer girls as “steel roses, the pride of China,” and congratulated them on the dramatic win.
Even though the Chinese women’s national football team was two goals behind South Korea in the first half, they scored three in the second half with two goals scored in just five minutes.
Likewise, the steel roses beat Japan’s team; the twice-defending champions, 4-3 in a penalty shootout, and qualified for the final after thirteen years. Last it had qualified for the final match in 2008. Zhang Linyan turned the tables in favor of China.
🇨🇳 Zhang Linyan’s game-changing header 💥
#WACFinal | #WAC2022 | #CHNvKOR | #OurGoalForAll pic.twitter.com/GnSJAkYhRD
— #WAC2022 (@afcasiancup) February 6, 2022
Although the South Korean women’s national football team was playing the Asian Cup’s final for the first time they proved to be a formidable opponent. South Korea has multiple outstanding players who played rather flexibly on the ground.
China’s Captain Wang Shanshan was anointed as the Most Valuable Player for her leadership and five-goal contribution during the tournament. Previously, China has won the Asia Cup in 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006, and 2022.
The head coach of the Chines team Shui Quingxia remarked after the match that the win was of great importance for Chinese football. Shui Quingxia, herself is a five-time winner. She said that “this is the most critical moment for China’s women’s football.”
AFC Women’s Asian Cup
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a competition in women’s football for national teams which belong to the AFC. The tournament is held after every 4 years.
It is one of the oldest women’s international football competitions as well as exclusive women’s football competition in the AFC region for national teams. This year AFC Women’s Asian Cup was hosted by India.
