wonder goal

The finals kicked off in Suwon last Wednesday afternoon with two-time defending champions Japan thrashing Chinese Taipei 4-0, sending a strong signal to their Chinese and Korean rivals that they wouldn’t be giving up their title easily. The hosts faced China in the evening, conceding early as Yao Wei intercepted a clearance on the edge of the box, with all the time and space she needed to get a clear shot on goal. As Korea settled into the game, they created plenty of attacking opportunities but failed to capitalise. Even when Kang Chaerim got a clear run at an open goal, she sent the ball agonisingly wide. When her header a few minutes later looked sure to be going into the net, she almost seemed to start celebrating, but somehow goalkeeper Pan Hongyan got her hands on it before it crossed the line. In the dying moments of the first half, Korea finally got the equaliser, with Jang Selgi pouncing on a loose ball in the box. In the second half, the visitors again took the lead, but Korea salvaged a draw thanks to a Ji Soyun wonder goal in injury time.