Son Hwa-yeon gets a hat-trick as Korea beat Philippines 5-1

Football

Published: 25 Sep. 2023, 22:40 Updated: 26 Sep. 2023, 10:24

Son Hwa-yeon gets a hat-trick as Korea beat Philippines 5-1

Son Hwa-yeon celebrates after scoring a goal against the Philippines at WZ Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China on Monday. [YONHAP]

The Korean women’s football team came from behind to beat the Philippines 5-1 at the Asian Games on Monday to cement their lead at the top of Group E.

Korea started off on the wrong foot at the WZ Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou, China, conceding an early goal to the Philippines just eight minutes into the game.

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

The Taeguk Ladies rallied quickly. Chun Ga-ram tied the score in the 12th minutes, opening the floodgates for a Korean onslaught that would begin in earnest with a goal from Son Hwa-yeon just before the break.

Ji So-yun got No. 3 with a penalty in the 52nd, leaving Son to pile on with two more goals in the 56th and 70th to secure the 5-1 win and a hat-trick of her own.

With the win, Korea top Group E with six points after earlier beating Myanmar 3-0. They will face Hong Kong in their final group stage game on Thursday, with a win to put them through to the knockout stage of the tournament highly likely.

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 JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]