Chinese women cruise towards spot in semifinal

Reigning champions China moved a big step closer to a place in the last four of the AFC Women's Championship with a decisive 11-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Taipei's Chungshan Stadium yesterday.

Zhang Ouying (張歐影) led the way for China with four goals while her strike partner Mo Chenyue (莫晨月) wasn't far behind with a hat-trick, as China once again racked up a double-digit score line.

The favorites for the title had thrashed Hong Kong 10-0 on Wednesday.

Despite the imbalance in quality and experience highlighted by the one-sided matches, coach Ma Yuanan (馬元安) is not allowing his players to become complacent.

"We must take every game very seriously and we must respect all opponents," Ma said after the defeat of the Uzbeks. "I was very pleased with the way that all our players contributed."

For the second game in the tournament China started with Sun Wen (孫雯) on the bench as speculation regarding her fitness and future continue to shroud the Atlanta Beat star. FIFA's co-player of the century, who is reportedly considering taking a year off from playing for the national team, came on in the second half when her side was already leading 5-0.

Sun replaced defender Wang Liping (王麗萍) at the interval as Ma went for the Central Asian team's jugular. However the forward, whose recent form has been inhibited by pains in her knee, was unable to get the ball past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Oydinhon Turdimatova.

This was not a problem shared by Sun's teammates as goals from Philadelphia Charge midfielder Liu Ailing (劉愛拎), Zhao Lihong (趙利紅) and 19-year-old striker Qu Feifei (曲飛飛) supplemented Zhang's fourth and a brace from Mo.

Hong Kong 2, the Philippines 1

Hong Kong saw of the Philippines in an evenly contested `battle of the group C basement' which probably decided who finishing last in the four-team group.

Yau Ka Wai (邱嘉慧) opened the scoring for Hong Kong on the half hour mark before veteran striker Wai Hoi Ying (韋海英) doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute.

Edna Agravantae gave the Philippines a life-line just five minutes later but the 21-year-old forward's goal was merely a consolation as Hong Kong managed to hold on for the win.

The Philippines is to face China tomorrow -- when the biggest challenge for the Filipinas will be trying to keep China from reaching double figures once again -- while Hong Kong will face Uzbekistan.

Tomorrow in group A, Taiwan will face Thailand at 4pm at Municipal stadium, after the match between Malaysia and South Korea. While in group B matches at Chungshan Stadium, Guam will face Japan at 2pm, followed by North Korea vs Vietnam at 4pm.