China beat North Korea to top Group B at women's Asian Cup

SYDNEY: Defending champions China fought ⁠back from a goal down to beat North Korea 2-1 and ​top women's Asian Cup ​Group B and Uzbekistan sealed their quarterfinal place with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh on Monday.
North Korea, second in the group, will face Group A winners Australia in the quarter-finals on Friday in a repeat of the 2010 final, which Australia won on penalties. ⁠China, who won all their group games, will play the ⁠second-placed team in Group C on Saturday.
Three-times champions North Korea took the lead in the 32nd minute when Han Jin-hong's cross from the right was put away by ‌Kim Kyong-Yong at the Western Sydney ​Stadium.
China equalised two minutes ⁠later, when Shao Ziqin played a corner back to ​Chen Qiaozhu, whose low left-footed ‌shot from outside the box went through a cluster of defenders and into the net.
China, seeking ​a record-extending 10th title, took the lead in added time before the break when Zhang Chengxue sneaked past the North Korean defensive line to send a perfect cross for Wang Shuang to fire home.
Zhang was initially flagged offside, but ‌a VAR review overturned the decision, and the goal stood. The ​North Korean players and staff protested the decision as the referee booked ​coach ‌Ri ⁠Song-ho and declared halftime.
North Korea, who have reached the semi-finals in their last nine appearances, thought they had equalised in the 80th minute but ​Choe Il-Son's strike was overturned by VAR due ⁠to offside.
In Perth, ​Uzbekistan's Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva scored early against Bangladesh, before Dildora Nozimova struck twice within four minutes in the second half and Nilufar Kudratova completed the rout.
Uzbekistan, who finished third in Group B with three points, reached ​the quarterfinals as one of the tournament's two best third-placed ​teams thanks to scoring more goals than the Philippines who came third in Group A. — Reuters