Hangzhou, China, October 3, 2023: Defending champions Japan will take on DPR Korea in the gold medal match in the women’s football at the 2022 Asian Games on Friday after victories over China and Uzbekistan respectively in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
The Japanese survived a spirited fightback by the hosts to win 4-3 while DPR Korea crushed Uzbekistan, handing the Central Asians an 8-0 thrashing with Kim Kyong Yong scoring four times in a commanding performance.
Hong Son Gok put her team on their way to victory with a close range finish in the ninth minute and Kim doubled her side’s lead with her first of the evening from the penalty spot nine minutes later.
An Myong Song’s header gave DPR Korea a 3-0 lead in first half injury time and they extended their lead further seconds after the restart when Kim scored with a volley from above shoulder height.
The goals kept coming for DPR Korea, Ri Hak claiming the fifth via a deflection in the 50th minute and Kim completed her hat trick 13 minutes later with a header.
She scored her fourth – and DPR Korea’s seventh – in the 83rd minute while Kim Hye Yong completed the rout in injury time.
Later in the evening the Japanese took the lead against China in the 12th minute as Yoshino Nakashima slid in to score from close range following Yuzuki Yamamoto’s low cross from the right, but the Chinese levelled eight minutes later as Wang Linlin’s looping header crossed the line.
Michihisa Kano’s side were back in front by the 31st minute, however, when Momoko Tanikawa bent her low right foot shot into the bottom corner and, four minutes later, Yamamoto split the Chinese defence with a pass that released Remina Chiba to score with a first-time shot.
Tanikawa’s corner two minutes before the interval provided Japan’s fourth, her centre flicked on by Chinese defender Chen Qiaozhu at the near post and Toko Koga slid in to convert.
Zhang Linyan reduced China’s deficit 10 minutes after the restart with a close range header that gave the home side hope and that was enhanced further when substitute Yang Lina looped her header over goalkeeper Natsumi Asano six minutes later.
The Japanese managed to hold out, however, and will face DPR Korea in the final. China will play Uzbekistan for the bronze medal.