Korea blank hosts Uzbekistan 13-0 to reach U-20 Asian Cup semifinals

Hong Chae-bin, center, dribbles the ball during an AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup group stage match between Korea and Uzbekistan at JAR Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Saturday. [NEWS1]

The U-20 South Korean women’s national team thrashed hosts Uzbekistan 13-0 in an AFC U-20 Asian Cup group stage game on Saturday, reaching the semifinals as Group A runners-up and booking a ticket to the World Cup in the process.

The match at JAR Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan was completely one-sided from the start, with the young Taeguk Ladies putting the score at 6-0 before halftime.

Hong Chae-bin opened the scoring in the eighth minute and completed a hat-trick with two more goals in the 22nd and 34th minute, while Yang Eun-seo, Kim Jih-yeon and Hwang Da-yeong scored a goal apiece in the first half.

Yang also managed a hat-trick with two more goals in the 49th and 66th minutes, and Hwang managed a double with a second goal in the 61st minute. Jeon Yu-gyeong scored the last goal of the match in the 89th minute to end it at 13-0.

It was the biggest score in the tournament so far, even surpassing the 10-0 win managed by Japan against Vietnam on March 4.

Despite the huge victory, South Korea failed to top Group A and joined the last four with two wins — over Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei — and one loss against Group A winners Australia.

South Korea still qualified for the World Cup in August by reaching the semifinals, as Asian Cup rules stipulate that the tournament semifinalists qualify for the World Cup in August.

The young Taeguk Ladies will face the Group B winners in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Japan is leading in Group B with two wins, with North Korea coming in second with one win and one draw as of press time Sunday. The two teams are set to face off later on Sunday afternoon.

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