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| China's soccer players throw their coach Ma
Liangxing up in the air as they celebrate their win over Australia
in their Women's Asian Cup final soccer match in Adelaide July 30,
2006. [Reuters] |
China came from behind to beat Australia on
penalties, winning their eighth AFC women's Asian Cup
yesterday.
The victory marks the nation's return to winning
ways after semi-final and final defeats to the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 2001 and 2003.
With a fast attacking
flow in the second half, China came from behind to neutralize a two-goal
deficit through Han Duan (68) and Ma Xiaoxu (73), who was named Most
Valuable Player, forcing the match into extra-time after Caitlin Munoz had scored
the first goal for Tom Sermanni's side on 28 minutes and Peters made it
2-0 on 33 minutes.
China replaced goalkeepers with Zhang Yanru coming off the
substitutes' bench at the end
of extra time, displacing starting goalkeeper Han Wenxia.
The substitution proved decisive with Zhang saving two penalties from
Collette McCallum and Joanne Peters while China converted all their
attempts to win 4-2 on penalties.
"I am so excited to be a part of the success like this," said Zhang. "I
can feel the support from my team-mates and coaches. It's a hard-gained
win for all of us and this is what we've been expecting for many years."
Head coach Ma Liangxing echoed Zhang's words, saying the long-awaited
trophy would inspire the players of the future.
"I can't believe we came back from two goals down but I never lost
confidence in my players," he said. "This victory will be very important
in increasing the confidence of my players. It will be very positive in
the long run."
Australia won the last penalty
shoot-out between the two countries, 5-4 in Shanghai in
2000.
Before the final, Australia had played China 26 times coming away as
the losing side 16 times, with seven games ending in a draw. The last two clashes between the two,
as recently as last month, ended in China's favour.
Australia, playing in their first Asian Cup final since joining the
Asian confederation on January 1, looked on target to win the tournament
with first-half goals through when Caitlin Munoz (29th minute) and Peters
(33rd minute).
China as hosts and finalists and Australia have already booked their
berths in next year's FIFA World Cup with the DPRK joining them after
beating Japan 3-2 in the play-off for third place earlier yesterday.
(China
Daily)
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