China's women ignored scattered pro-independence and Falun Gong protests yesterday in Taiwan to secure a berth in the semifinals of the AFC Women's Soccer Championship.
The "Steel Roses" romped to a 10-0 victory over a courageous, but outclassed Filipina side at Taipei Municipality Stadium.
The victory, which is China's third consecutive win in the competition, sets up a semifinal match against either Japan or North Korea on Friday at Taipei's Chungshan Stadium.
PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
Half-a-dozen Falun Gong followers unfurled banners on the terraces during China's match against the Philippines, but were largely ignored by the small number of fans on the terraces.
The waving of Taiwan's national colors and a banner reading "Welcome China's Women's Soccer Team," however, caused more heads to turn.
The group of fans -- who said they were there to support China -- were asked by the organizers to refrain from waving the flag during the match, which they did.
According to International Olympic Committee regulations, Taiwan can only display its officially sanctioned "Chinese Taipei" flag at international sporting events.
The slow but entertaining soccer slaughter of the Filipinas began in the third minute when Qu Fefei blasted home China's first.
Five minutes later center forward Sun Wen, who plays in the US, added to the tally.
China denied the Philippines possession throughout the game and rarely allowed the ball to cross into its half of the pitch.
On the rare occasions the blue shirts of the Philippine team did venture across the halfway line they were met by a barrage of red shirts that quickly neutralized the threat.
Pu Wei then began to stamp her authority on the game, with a fine goal in the 25th minute.
The nifty left-winger got her name on the score sheet with two more goals in the 35th and 39th minutes of the first half.
With China in control and leading by five unanswered goals at the end of the first period, it appeared the Philippines might might have been wishing soccer was not a game of two halves.
Liu Ying added to the Filipina's misery in the second half after she headed the ball home from inside the box in the 58th minute.
Defender Bai Jie moved upfeild and got China's seventh less than 10 minutes later.
To the Philippine's credit, they did not give up and threw themselves forward to grab a consolation goal.
China's goalkeeper, Zhao Yen was forced to parry an effort from the edge of the area, but another Bai Jie goal put the Philippines on the back foot again.
Liu Ying added a ninth in the 76th minute and Bai Jie completed her hat trick for China's tenth in the 85th minute.
Uzbekistan 4, Hong Kong 0
In the day's other action, Hong Kong and Uzbekistan battled it out in an evenly matched game where pride, rather than a berth in the next round was at stake.
The Uzbeks ended up beating Hong Kong 4-0 for a respectable second place in group C.
Hong Kong started well and should have capitalized in the opening minutes after being awarded a freekick a couple of meters outside the penalty area.
But the kick was wasted and Uzbekistan countered with a period of pressure that drew a spate of corners and freekicks
A combination of tight defending and the upright denied Uzbekistan and the game see-sawed until Uzbekistan's Usmanova Komola finally broke the stalemate after 39 minutes.
Finding herself with only one woman and the 'keeper to beat, the Uzbek midfielder deftly took the ball around the defender and lobbed the advancing 'keeper.
The game settled into a midfield battle in the second half, with both teams creating opportunities, but failing to finish.
Hong Kong finally came undone in the 75th minute after Azamova Gulnara hammered home Uzbekistan's second from close range.
A minute later Gulamova Elmira scored from the spot to claim the Uzbeks' third and Gulnara finished things off for Uzbekistan in the 78th minute when she scored her second of the match and Uzbekistan's fourth.
Taiwan plots course to victory
Taiwan remains the firm favorite to win group A, having already scored 24 goals and gained nine points from three matches.
Taiwan can only be toppled by the South Korean squad, that is currently in second place with six points and 10 goals after two games.
Although the Koreans have a game in hand, they will need to clock up two very high scoring victories against Taiwan and Thailand if they are to overtake the top spot in group A and qualify for the semifinals.
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