Speedboat to Tokyo: S Korea v China Olympic playoff • 8 & 13 Apr 2021

1st leg: South Korea v China, Goyang Stadium
Thurs 8 April, 07:00 GMT
2nd leg: China v South Korea, Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre
Tues 13 April, 08:00 GMT

Last tournament: China against the silver medallists Sweden​

(Agência Brasília 2016, cc-by)​

So far in the AFC:

South Korea won their group ahead of Vietnam in 2020.
China were minutes away from qualifying in Australia, but somehow didn't seal a victory - they finished 2nd on goal difference.

South Korea 3 - 0 Vietnam
Jang Sel-gi 23', Choo Hyo-joo 53', Ji So-yun 83'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4weEe93xDU


Australia 1 - 1 China PR
Van Egmond 90+2', Tang Jiali 86'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=COMiGGmEtnE


Initially in 2020, the China-S Korea 2nd leg was scheduled to be played in Australia instead, but the global lockdowns prevented the games. This month is the fourth attempt to stage the playoff.

(Re thread title, yeah, it's a metaphorical speedboat - they'll probably fly there, but "Short-haul Ticket to Tokyo & various host venues" didn't sound as good. Other titles you may prefer to debate include "Ferry to Fukuoka" and "Speedboat to Saitama")

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The Steel Roses squad are off the plane today, and they're dressed for the occasion.

(img: CWFT)​

Not much of a gap between the sides in the world rankings (China 15th, S Korea 18th), but China went one step further at the last World Cup.

Squads:
https://www.kfa.or.kr/national/?act=nt_woman
https://twitter.com/CHNWNT (still not announced?)

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Later today:

The game will be broadcast on some outlets in Korea, I'll post here if it's live online. The home team can be confident of reaching their first Olympics, says WK-League champion at Incheon, Kang Chae-rim - it would certainly be a success for them and their coach, 2015 Uefa women's CL champion, Colin Bell.

Olympic Final Qualifier China Match! What is the atmosphere of the national team that has become stronger with the addition of Ji So-yeon?


Also feeling confident, China's squad are out of the biohazard gear and onto the pitch:

- (CHNWNT)​

China's squad:
• Goalkeepers: Peng Shimeng (Jiangsu Suning), Zhu Yu (Wuhan Jiangda), Ding Xuan (Shanghai Shengli);
• Defenders: Li Mengwen (Jiangsu Suning), Wu Haiyan (Wuhan Jiangda), Luo Guiping (Guangdong Meizhou Hakka), Wang Xiaoxue (Jiangsu Suning), Lin Yuping (Guangdong Meizhou Hakka);
• Midfielders: Ma Jun (Wuhan Jiangda), Yao Lingwei (Jiangsu Suning), Yao Wei (Wuhan Jiangda), Li Qingtong (Guangdong Meizhou Hakka), Zhang Xin (Shanghai Shengli), Shen Mengyu (Shanghai Shengli), Lou Jiahui (Henan Jianye), Wang Shuang (Wuhan Jiangda);
• Forwards: Yang Man (Shandong Ticai), Tang Jiali (Shanghai Shengli), Xiao Yuyi (Shanghai Shengli), Wang Shanshan (Tianjin Shengde). Coach: Jia Xiuquan

I'm happy to see that China selected Yang Man, as it's a good excuse to post her personal entrance music, "the YMCA" ... (well, maybe if she gets a goal)

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Well, there's one link for if you're in South Korea, but their internet seems so fast that the video would break the average computer.

Chinese TV has coverage too - S Korea in the pink/red, China in white..

 

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It's getting good!

An away goal, and then Kang levels the scores before half-time with a fantastic finish, and the KFA posts the wonderful Chosun TV Korean commentary that I've missed so much

[GOAL] 🇰🇷대한민국 1-1 🇨🇳중국
지소연의 완벽한 패스와
강채림의 완벽한 마무리!
승부는 원점! 대한민국을 향한 응원 부탁드립니다!#대한민국 #여자 #축구 #국가대표팀 #올림픽 #최종예선 #플레이오프 pic.twitter.com/cRsvxfGAwj

— theKFA (@theKFA) April 8, 2021

 

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⬤ The key moment in the second half in Goyang - a misplaced kick and foul gives away a penalty to China, and thanks to Wang Shuang, they're in charge after the 1st leg...

"FULL TIME | 1-2
"GREAT result for the #SteelRoses away from home in the first leg of the @theafcdotcom Olympic Playoff!
"Zhang Xin opened the scoring on 33' and Wang Shuang confirmed the win on 73' converting a penalty kick. Kang Chae-rim scored the Korean goal on 39'."​

- (CHNWNT)​

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2nd leg starts soon in Suzhou (Tue 08:00 GMT) - China can qualify with a draw and South Korea must score 2 goals or more.

"Everything depends on this one game."


⬤ Team changes: China lose their captain...
"The suspended Wu Haiyan will be an important absence for the second leg. Zhai Qingwei was added to the squad in defence. Other changes from the previous list: Fang Jie will replace Shen Mengyu in midfield. Another new face is Yang Yan, goalkeeper called to substitute Ding Xuan." - (CHNWNT)

South Korea will have Cho So-hyun in the 2nd leg, after the English-based midfielder arrived too late for the 1st leg. Colin Bell says they'll need an almost perfect match to overturn the score.
https://www.the-afc.com/competition...ed-ahead-of-final-showdown-against-korea-repu

China are back on home ground, for their first home women's international for 17 months - the last game was a tournament win on penalties against Brazil in 2019.

"There's not much difference in the COVID-19 protocols of China and South Korea. People's life comes first and both countries follow that rule. I hope there will be more fans, more footballers and more media outlets cheering the women's team, whether they are watching the game in the stadium or not. Everyone wants the team to make the Tokyo Olympics".
- ('China's manager Jia Xiuquan: We are ready to face South Korea again', CGTN)

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Live Chinese TV coverage, and, whoa! Zebra stripes!

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(China: 12-Peng Shimeng; 4-Lou Jiahui, 16-Wang Xiaoxue, 17-Luo Guiping, 2-Li Mengwen; 7-Wang Shuang, 8-Ma Jun ©, 9-Yao Wei, 6-Zhang Xin; 18-Tang Jiali, 11-Wang Shanshan.)
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[GOAL] "Korea 1-0 China
"First half 31 minutes! Cho So-hyun's perfect cross and Kang Chae-rim's finish!!
"Republic of Korea! The start is smooth!"
[GOAL] 대한민국 1-0 중국
전반31분! 조소현의 완벽한 크로스와 강채림의 피니쉬!!
대한민국! 시작이 순조롭습니다!

[GOAL] 🇰🇷대한민국 1-0 🇨🇳중국
전반31분! 조소현의 완벽한 크로스와 강채림의 피니쉬!!
대한민국! 시작이 순조롭습니다!#대한민국 #여자 #축구 #국가대표팀 #올림픽 #최종예선 #플레이오프 pic.twitter.com/QbNMcVgzeq

— theKFA (@theKFA) April 13, 2021

 

2nd leg, Goal 2 for S Korea and they're ahead - Choi Yu-ri on 45'
www.twitter.com/theKFA/status/1381893153079263237

I was so surprised to see the crowd - it would've been a good number at any time, but apparently the virus level is low there.

It's certainly adding to the match. That first half was incredible - not sure if Chile v Cameroon with automatic crowd noise will reach the same level, honestly...

The 2nd half is underway.

 

China level the aggregate score! 1-2, and 3-3 overall now

Congratulations to goalscorer, Yang Man

 

Indonesia's foremost football blogger has called the game "Madness" (..typing in English), and I concur.

Very lucky escape for China - it goes to Extra Time (3-3 agg.)

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Goal China, Wang Shuang after 103' - a great strike, powerful shot from outside the area that curled around the GK

Half-time in extra time, 4-3 aggregate (2-2 on away goals)

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