Japan, China women advance to Olympics
(FootballAsia)
Updated: 2004-04-26 10:18

Japan and China have claimed Asia's two berths at Athens 2004 after victories over DPR Korea and Korea Republic respectively in the semi-finals of the AFC Women's Olympic Football Qualifying Tournament on Saturday.

Japan booked their spot in Athens with a convincing 3-0 win over reigning Asian women's football champions DPR Korea, while the Chinese ladies reached their third consecutive Olympics by edging out Korea Republic 1-0.

As winners of the last two editions of the AFC Women's Championship, DPR Korea had been favoured to progress to Athens but it was the Japanese that went ahead at the Tokyo National Stadium as striker Eriko Arakawa scored after a defensive error by Yun In-sil in the 11th minute.

The North Korean attack could not find a way past Japan's stiff defence and suffered another blow in injury time at the end of the first half as Jang Ok-gyong inadvertantly turned Arakawa's cross into her own goal.

Mio Otani sealed the Japanese victory by striking Japan's third goal in the 64th minute.

Japan face China in the final of the tournament at the Hiroshima Big Arch on Monday, while DPR Korea and Korea Republic must pick themselves up to play for third place.

AFC Women's Olympic Football Qualifying Tournament

Semi-final results

Japan 3 DPR Korea 0

China 1 Korea Republic 0

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