Chinese players line up before the second leg of the Tokyo Olympic women's football qualifying playoffs between China and South Korea in Suzhou, April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Bo)
China women's national football team drew with South Korean 2-2 after extra time to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics on aggregate 4-3.
SUZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese women's national football team drew with South Korea 2-2 after extra time in the second leg of the Tokyo Olympic Asian qualification playoffs here on Tuesday, qualifying for the Olympics on aggregate 4-3.
China's star player Wang Shuang contributed one goal and one assist as the Steel Roses came from 2-0 behind to get the last Asian ticket to Tokyo.
Yang Man (R) celebrates China's goal in their Olympic qualification playoff game against South Korea on April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
With a 2-1 loss in the first leg at home last Thursday, the South Korean side executed high pressing from the front and took the reins in the first half of the match. The away team broke the deadlock in the 30th minute when Kang Chae-rim converted the opening goal after receiving a pinpoint cross delivered by Cho So-hyun.
In the last minute of the first half, Chinese goalkeeper Peng Shimeng saved a close-range header from a corner, but couldn't stop the rebound shot from Choi Yu-ri as South Korea took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Chinese head coach Jia Xiuquan changed tactics in the second half and Yang Man came off the bench and became the turning point of the match. The 1.86-meter center forward Yang controlled the majority of long balls and headed home a free-kick from Wang Shuang in the 68th minute, forcing the match into extra time.
Wang Shuang celebrates scoring for China in their Olympic qualification playoff game against South Korea on April 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
In the 103rd minute, Wang Shuang scored the lethal goal with a long-distance left-footed shot, gifting China the aggregate lead.
