Korea Republic women’s national team stormed into the quarter-finals of the Asian Games to face Korea DPR in the last eight.

Colin Bell’s side defeated Hong Kong 5-0 in their final Group E match at Wenzhou Olympic Sports Centre on Thursday, with Moon Mira and Mun Eunjoo netting braces in each half. Having reached the last right after three straight wins, the Taegeuk Nangja are set to take on Korea DPR on Saturday afternoon.

In these Asian Games finals, 16 participating teams have been divided into five groups of four teams: each group winners advance to the quarterfinals, with the three runners-up with best results joining the quintet in the second round. However, only one team from Group C may reach the last eight, since there are only two teams in that group: Korea DPR and Singapore.

Group E winners Korea Republic were expecting to meet either Group D runners-up Vietnam or Group C winners Korea DPR, depending on the results of their final group matches: it would be Vietnam if they managed to finish within top three amongst the second-placed teams, or Korea DPR otherwise.

With his side already through to the knockout phase with a game in hand, Bell made no fewer than eight changes with only Kim Jungmi, Shim Seoyeon and Lee Eunyoung being the familiar faces that had started in the second match.

In his 4-3-3 formation, veteran forward Park Eunseon was deployed as a centre back whilst another stalwart in goal, Kim Jungmi was given her third start in as many games. Shim Seoyeon, Park Eunseon, Kim Hyeyeong and Lee Eunyoung at the back; Kwon Hahnul and Bae Yebin in defensive midfield positions; central midfielder Jeon Eunha flanked by Moon Mira and Jung Seolbin; Mun Eunju leading the attack as a lone striker.

Korea Republic struggled to find a breakthrough without some of their key players in the middle of the park, as Hong Kong sat back to defend in numbers. On 26 minutes, Shim Seoyeon broke on the left flank and sent a cross into the goalmouth but Moon Mira’s glancing header went just wide of the target.

A similar set of play was repeated three minutes later, and it resulted in a goal for Korea Republic: This time it was Moon Mira’s another header off a Mun Eunju cross from the left.

Korea Republic went further ahead on the stroke of half time. Moon received a long ball from behind to break into the area, before curling a right-footed effort into the back of the net to score her second of the evening.

The women in red kept up the momentum into the second half. Mun Eunju latched onto Lee Eunyoung’s cross from the right to score Korea Republic’s third goal and her first international goal on her second appearance for her country.

It was Chun Garam that stole the show afterwards, as the substitute was involved in two goals. Six minutes into the second half, Chun’s inviting cross was deflected by an opposing defender who was responsible for the own goal. On 70 minutes, Chun broke freely into the penalty area before setting up Mun Eunju for her second goal of the night.

Asian Games Hangzhou 2022

Group E

Korea Republic 5-0 Hong Kong

Goals: Moon Mira 29’, 45’, Mun Eunju 46’, 70’; Wu Choi Yiu 51’(o.g.)

KOR: Kim Jungmi (Choi Yeseul 74’), Shim Seoyeon (Lee Mina 46’, Chun Garam 49’), Park Eunseon, Kim Hyeyeong, Lee Eunyoung, Kwon Hahnul, Bae Yebin, Jeon Eunha, Moon Mira, Mun Eunju, Jeong Seolbin