China stage incredible comeback to claim AFC Women’s Asian Cup, beating South Korea from two goals down in dramatic final
- Xiao Yuyi snatches the trophy for China in added time, after second-half goals from Tang Jiali and Zhang Linyan brought them level
- Colin Bell’s South Korea side will be left ruing Lee Young-ju’s handball in the box, which sparked stunning smash and grab from Shui Qingxia’s ‘Steel Roses’
China staged an incredible comeback to beat South Korea 3-2 and win the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Navi Mumbai, India on Sunday.
The “Steel Roses” came from two goals down with less than 25 minutes to go in the final at DY Patil Sports Stadium, with Xiao Yuyi scoring in the third minute of added time to seal a record-extending ninth trophy.
Two minutes before Xiao’s winner, China goalkeeper Zhu Yu had kept her side in it with a stunning point-blank save from Son Hwa-yeon.
South Korea had been 2-0 up at the half-time break thanks to Choe Yu-ri’s opener and Ji So-yun’s penalty. Out of nowhere, China got back into the match with a penalty of their own, converted by Tang Jiali, who two minutes later set up Zhang Linyan to head home the equaliser.
“At half-time I told the players not to give up as anything can happen in 45 minutes,” China head coach Shui Qingxia told reporters.