Taeguk Ladies begin Asian Games with convincing 3-0 win over Myanmar

Football

Published: 22 Sep. 2023, 22:29 Updated: 22 Sep. 2023, 22:35

Taeguk Ladies begin Asian Games with convincing 3-0 win over Myanmar

Korea's Jeon Eun-ha, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during a Group E match at the Hangzhou Asian Games against Myanmar at Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in Wenzhou, China on Friday. [YONHAP]

The Korean women’s football team trounced Myanmar 3-0 in their first group stage game at the Hangzhou Asian Games Friday, starting their bid to win their first-ever Asiad gold medal on the right foot.

The match at Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium in Wenzhou, China was the Taeguk Ladies’ first match since the 2023 Women’s World Cup last month, where they crashed out of the group stage with one draw and two losses.

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The Taeguk Ladies had more ball possession in the early going and attempted multiple shots, but failed to open the scoring with Myanmar players mostly playing in their own half. Son Hwa-yeon’s goal in the 14th minute seemed like a breakthrough, but it was ruled offside.

Veteran midfielder Ji So-yun then made good passes for her teammates and passed a ball to Lee Eun-young, who smashed in a shot with a volley to make it 1-0 in the 24th minute.

Lee’s goal gave Korea more confidence, with the Taeguk Ladies creating more threatening moments to extend their lead, but no more goals followed in the first half.

Korea’s attacks persisted in the second half, but the Taeguk Ladies failed to create good chances with the forwards showing a lack of cohesion at important moments.

It was Ji that stepped up and stretched the lead, scoring a free kick in the 58th minute to make it 2-0. The Taeguk Ladies’ did not stop there and added another with Jeon Eun-ha’s goal in the 68th minute.

That goal locked in Korea’s 3-0 victory, which allowed Korea to top Group E.

A total of 16 countries, divided into five groups, compete in this year’s Asiad, with five group winners and the three best runners-up reaching the quarterfinals.

Group A and B have three teams apiece and Group C has two teams, while Groups D and E have four each.

Korea will next face the Philippines on Monday at the same venue, before playing Hong Kong on Sept. 28.

The Taeguk Ladies are aiming for their first-ever gold medal at the Asian Games, with their best finish at the tournament being a bronze in 2010, 2014 and 2018.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]