Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women’s Asian Cup

China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women's Asian Cup | iNFOnews.ca
China's Wang Shuang, left, reacts after scoring her team's second goal during the Women's Asian Cup soccer match between China and North Korea in Sydney, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

SYDNEY (AP) — Defending champion China edged North Korea 2-1 in a physical, high-energy game Monday to take top spot in Group B in the Women’s Asian Cup.

The result sent North Korea into a quarterfinal Friday against Australia in Perth, where the hosts and 2023 World Cup semifinalists opened the tournament with a win over Philippines.

China and North Korea were already assured of quarterfinal spots with two wins apiece ahead of their showdown at Western Sydney Stadium. Uzbekistan finished third in the group with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in Perth, also securing a spot in the knockout stage.

Playing in its first Women’s Asian Cup tournament since losing the 2010 final to Australia, North Korea only needed a draw against China to top the group. And they took the lead when Kim Kyong Yong finished off a counter-attacking goal in the 32nd minute, the first shot on goal in the game.

The lead was short-lived, though, with China equalizing two minutes later with Chen Qiaozhu’s stunning strike through traffic from the edge of the area.

China went ahead in a tense finish to the first half, when Wang Shuang’s goal was awarded after a VAR review deep in stoppage time.

The VAR decision to overturn the assistant referee’s offside call upset the North Korean players and led to coach Ri Song Ho being yellow carded by referee Thi Ly Le as his team protested on the sideline. The North Korean players didn’t return to the pitch before halftime was called.

Both teams had chances in the second half, with North Korea goalkeeper Yu Son Gum making a full-length diving save to Wang’s powerful left-foot shot in the 78th, and then 19-year-old Choe Il Son appearing to equalize two minutes later before being ruled offside after a VAR review.

In Perth, Dildora Nozimova scored twice in six minutes for Uzbekistan, her first just two minutes after entering the game as a substitute on the hour.

State of play

The top two teams in each of the three groups advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.

In Group A, South Korea edged Australia for top spot on goal difference after the 3-3 draw in Sydney on Sunday night. The South Koreans will play the third-place team from either Group B or Group C in the quarterfinals. Philippines still has a narrow chance of advancing after placing third, finishing with a win over Iran. That put Iran women’s team out of contention, and facing the prospect of a return to country at war.

In Group C, two-time champion Japan leads with six points ahead of its last group match against Vietnam, which is tied with Taiwan for second spot on three points. Taiwan finishes the group stage against India.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women's Asian Cup | iNFOnews.ca
North Korean coaching staff argue with a match official after China’s second goal during the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between China and North Korea in Sydney, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women's Asian Cup | iNFOnews.ca
China’s Chen Qiaozhu, top, celebrates with her teammates after scoring her team’s first goal during the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between China and North Korea in Sydney, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women's Asian Cup | iNFOnews.ca
North Korea’s Ri Hye Gyong, bottom, and China’s Wurigumula compete for the ball during the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between China and North Korea in Sydney, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
China beats North Korea 2-1 to take top spot in Group B at Women's Asian Cup | iNFOnews.ca
North Korean players celebrate after their first goal during the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between China and North Korea in Sydney, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles