Korea Republic women’s national team breezed past Chinese Taipei.

Colin Bell’s side beat Chinese Taipei 4-0 in their final match of the 2022 EAFF E-1 Championship at Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki, Japan on Tuesday. The Taegeuk Nangja took the lead through an own goal, before Lee Mina doubled the advantage on her first start of the competition. Kang Chaerim scored her side’s third of the afternoon, with Ko Minjung scoring on her international debut. With the comprehensive victory, Korea Republic are on a 14-game winning streak against Chinese Taipei since 2001.

Bell’s charges have recorded a win, a draw and a defeat – following a 2-1 reverse against Japan and a 1-1 draw with China PR – and finished third after the match between China and Japan ended in a goalless draw in the evening.

Bell stuck to his usual back three throughout the competition, with goalkeeper Yoon Younggeul standing behind Lim Seonjoo, Hong Hyeji and Kim Hyeri. Ji Soyun and Lee Youngju pulled the strings from the middle of the park, as Lee Mina started as an attacking midfielder. Choe Yuri and Kang Chaerim led the attack up front, flanked by Jang Selgi and Choo Hyojoo. Lee Mina and Ji Soyun started alongside one another as the women in red made a relatively more attack-minded approach to the game.

And they made their intentions clear from the outset, as captain Kim Hyeri fired a warning shot after two minutes. Although they did seize control of the game in the opening exchanges, the Taegeuk Nangja struggled to breach the stubborn rearguard.

They were dealt an injury blow on 16 minutes, when Lim Seonjoo fell down after a clash with goalkeeper Cheng Ssu-Yu whilst attempting a header off a free-kick. Bell brought midfielder Kim Yunji on for Lim, moving Lee Youngju back to defence. It was Kim Yunji’s first international appearance in 13 years since January 2009.

The deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes. Ji Soyun found Jang Selgi lurking into space on the left side, where Jang collected the through ball before delivering a cross into the path of Lee Mina. However, the ball ended up crossing the line, deflected by Chang Chi-Lan’s attempted clearance in the crowded goalmouth.

The opening goal made it wide open, as Kang Chaerim converted a chance following a Choe Yuri cross from the right flank on 38 minutes. Having scored her first international goal against Chinese Taipei during the E-1 Championship in 2019, Kang struck again in three years against the familiar foes. Two minutes later, Lee Mina, Choe and Ji combined to break through the opposition rearguard before Lee made it 3-0 with a clinical finish.

But Korea Republic were dealt another blow four minutes into the second half, when Ji was stretchered off with an ankle injury and replaced by Jang Chang, who made her first appearance in two years.

Despite the absence of their No10, the Taegeuk Nangja kept up the momentum to put pressure on the opposition. On 79 minutes, a trio of forwards – Park Eunseon, Jang Yubeen and Ko Minjung – came off the bench, as they switched to an attack-minded 4-3-3.

They kept knocking on the door until they scored the fourth in the added time. Kang Chaerim’s high cross from the right was met with an accurate header by Ko, who scored her first international goal on her senior debut.


 

2022 EAFF E-1 Championship(Kashima Stadium, 26 July)

Korea Republic 4-0 Chinese Taipei

Scorers: Chang Chi-Lan 35’ (o.g.), Lee Mina 40’, Kang Chaerim 38’, Ko Minjung 90’+1

KOR: Yoon Younggeul; Lim Seonjoo (Kim Yunji 16’), Hong Hyeji, Kim Hyeri; Jang Selgi, Lee Youngju (Park Eunseon 79’), Ji Soyun (Jang Chang 49’), Choo Hyojoo (Ko Minjung 79’); Lee Mina; Choe Yuri (Jang Yubeen 79’), Kang Chaerim