GYEONGGI PROVINCE, In a pivotal match that determined their fate in the Olympic qualification journey, South Korea’s women's football team concluded their campaign in the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament with a draw against China on October 16, 2023.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The draw placed South Korea in the second position of Group B, accumulating five points, two behind North Korea, which led the group. The structure of the second round included three groups, each consisting of four teams. The winners of each group, alongside the best runner-up team, progressed to the next stage of the tournament.
The teams advancing to the third round from the other groups include Australia from Group A, and Japan from Group C. Uzbekistan, having defeated India 3-0, secured their spot as the best runner-up team with six points and a goal difference of +2.
On the same day, the Philippines concluded their participation in Group A with a victory over Iran, finishing with six points. However, their goal difference of -4 prevented them from advancing.
South Korea’s outcome in the tournament could have been different if Shim Seo-yeon’s goal in the 62nd minute had remained unanswered. China’s Wang Shanhan, however, found the equalizer in the 78th minute, leading to a draw that resulted in the elimination of both South Korea and China from the qualification campaign. China concluded their run in the third position with four points.
The match saw no goals in the first half. China had a goal disallowed in the 21st minute due to an offside call. On the South Korean side, Ji So-yun, a veteran player, hit the left goal post during added time in a counter-attack opportunity.
The deadlock was broken past the hour mark when Shim Seo-yeon, a 34-year-old defender playing her 87th match, headed in a free-kick delivered by Ji So-yun. Following this, China intensified their efforts and succeeded in equalizing through Wang Shanhan, with an assist from Yan Jinjin’s free-kick. Yan had a subsequent chance to put China ahead but her shot narrowly missed the goal in the 84th minute.
This draw adds to South Korea’s challenging history against China in women’s football, with the South Korean team holding a record of five wins, eight draws, and 29 losses in 42 encounters. South Korea's quest for Olympic qualification remains unfulfilled as women's football has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1996, but the team has yet to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.