Taiwan's lofty hopes of shooting down China in the final of the AFC Women's Championship took a terminal dive yesterday, when it was unceremoniously dumped from the competition.
Going into today's matches, Taiwan needed either Japan to lose against Vietnam, or South Korea to lose or draw against Thailand.
It was not to be.
PHOTO: LEE HUNG-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
Taiwan is out and China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan claimed the quarterfinal spots.
In the match at Taipei Municipality Stadium, Thailand refused to roll over and die against the bigger and stronger South Koreans, but just could not contain them.
Thailand got off to the worst possible start with just seven minutes on the clock, when Lee Jin-eun gave South Korea an early lead.
While the Thais manfully held out until the break, the second half was all Korea.
With the Koreans dominating the middle of the field and just a lone striker up front, Thailand posed little threat to the Korean defense.
Kwon Min-joo added a second 12 minutes after the restart before Lee-Kye-lim made it three in the 72nd minute.
Just 60 seconds later Kwon was on target again with the goal that sealed South Korea's fourth win out of four and eliminated Taiwan from the competition.
A crowd of around 1,000 saw the game and there was some partisanship on the terraces.
A posse of Thai housemaids supported their home team, while a group of three- and four-year-olds from local kindergartens inexplicably supported South Korea.
Meanwhile, the threat of terror attacks appeared to have faded somewhat, as security officers slept in the conference room.
Japan was never likely going to do Taiwan any favors and it ran out an easy 3-1 winner against Vietnam in its match at Chungshan Stadium.
The game, which was played in the early afternoon and at the same time as the South Korea-Thailand game, saw the end of Taiwan's qualification hopes.
Japan emerged with nine points in group B, the same as Taiwan in group A, but had a better goal difference.
The businesslike Japanese struck early in the game with Kanako Ito claiming the first goal on eight minutes.
At halftime it was still 1-0 and some Taiwan supporters remained hopeful of salvation for their team and a goal from Vietnam to even the game.
But, Japan's Mio Otani put the contest beyond any doubt when she struck in the 75th and 89th minutes.
Singapore 2, Guam 1
In the final matches of the group stage of the 13th AFC Women's Championship, Singapore came out on top in the battle of the "developing nations."
With both teams having lost their previous three matches -- and conceding 78 goals between them in the process -- the two coaches Noel Celo Casilao of Guam and Singapore's Mohammed Basir considered this their "final."
It was the "Lionesses" who triumphed after a competitive contest, with Guam picking up the wooden spoon.
Noor Azean Bte Adam opened for Singapore after 11 minutes, but Guam was quick to respond with a a Jane O'Connor goal to level.
Just three minutes later, however, Tina Afrida Nasmi got what turned out to be the winning goal.
Singapore had picked up its first and only victory.
India 3, Malaysia 0
Meanwhile, India also got its first win of the competition with a 3-0 victory over Malaysia.
Bengal striker Sujata Kar hit a quick-fire double with goals in the 21st and 22nd minutes before Shadokpam Shanti Devi added the third five minutes later, after which Malaysia closed out the match.
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