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Australia and China book Olympic spots

China.org.cn, March 8, 2016

• China's players celebrated after Wang Shanshan opened the scoring.

  China qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games after their 1-0 defeat of Korea Republic was followed by Australia's 2-1 win against DPR Korea as Monday's results guaranteed the Steel Roses and the Matildas a top-two finish with one round of the Asian qualifiers for Rio remaining.

  Wang Shanshan scored the only goal as unbeaten China secured a first Olympic Games appearance since 2008, with the 26-year-old finding the net two minutes before half-time at the Nagai Stadium as the eight-time Asian champions added to earlier wins over Vietnam and Japan and a draw against DPR Korea.

  "Korea Republic still had the chance to qualify so they came to play very seriously in this game, not just to watch us play," Bini said immediately after his side's third victory in Osaka, and prior to Australia's victory over the North Koreans.

  "In the second half our substitutions were made to prevent their attacks from the side. We sent our attacking players to prevent their attacking.

  "I have a friend who is a tennis coach and one time he told me that you have to learn how to play in a good way and in a bad way."

  After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, Korea Republic began to assert their authority on proceedings, and had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 15th minute as Ji So-yun arrowed a pass to Jung Sul-bin inside the penalty area, but her shot was well saved by China goalkeeper Zhao Lina and Lee Min-a could not quite make contact with the rebound.

  China's first clear opportunity arrived in the 31st minute, but this time one of their players was unable to make the decisive touch from close-range as Wang failed to convert Tan Ruyin's free-kick form the right.

  But Wang was on hand to make the breakthrough two minutes before half-time as she headed home Wang Shuang's left-wing cross from close range.

  Korea Republic again had the better of things at the start of the second half, but Jang Sel-gi floated an effort over the crossbar form range in the 56th minute beforee Ji So-yun failed to divert an outrageous overhead kick from the edge of the area on target in the 66th.

  Their clearest chance to draw level came in the 74th minute, but after fashioning the shooting opportunity, Jung Sul-bin lashed her effort wide from the edge of the penalty area.

  But as Korea Republic went for broke in an attempt to keep their own qualification hopes alive, China had a chance to put the game to bed with eight minutes left on the clock.

  Zhao Xue carried the ball forwards and tested Kim Jung-mi in the Korea Republic goal from just outside the penalty area, with Wang Shanshan following up and driving the rebound across goal for the arriving Gu Yasha, but her effort was blocked at the near post and scrambled away to safety.

  "I'd like to congratulate today's winners China. I think they deserved to win. Even though we lost, our players did their best," said Korea Republic Yoon Duk-yeo

  "I think both Japan and Korea Republic prepared very well for this tournament, as did all the teams participating. The only thing lacking was results. Japan and Korea both have a bright future and will now change from now, I think. There is no major tournament in the Asian region coming up so perhaps it is a good time to make big changes to the teams in that regard."

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