FOOTBALL – SOUTH Korea got off to a winning start in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 yesterday as they overcame a determined Iran side.
A strong second-half showing saw the Taeguk Ladies emerge 3-0 victors at the Perth Stadium to chalk up a seventh opening win in tournament history, and move to the top of Group C.
Choe Yu-ri had the first sight of goal in the fourth minute when her strike off Mun Eun-ju’s cut-back forced a good save from Maryam Yektaei, who was then relieved to see Choe’s dangerous cross unmet by a red shirt before Ji So-yun slammed an effort over after waltzing past two opponents.
A lonely furrow was ploughed upfront by Afsaneh Chatrenoor as the rest of her Iranian teammates frustrated South Korea through determined defending and some fortune, with Kang Chae-rim and Mun each scuffing their efforts from promising positions.
The East Asians began trying their luck from range but to no avail as Choi Yoo-jung and Jung Min-young both missed the target, with the former also curling a 25-metre free-kick over.
But the breakthrough finally came in the 38th minute via some intricate play. Ji picked out Choi on the edge of the box and the latter’s deft flick found Jang Sel-gi, who surged into the area and hit the post with her shot – only for Choe to slam the rebound in and mark her 70th cap with a bang.
It should have been two as half-time approached but having touched the ball past Yektaei, Ji smacked her effort into the side-netting. There was then even time for Choi to sidefoot Mun’s pinpoint cross over from six yards, followed by Kang diverting Kim Hye-ri’s ball wide from close range.
Having been forced into taking off the injured Chatrenoor towards the end of the first half, Marziyeh Jafari made three more changes at the break and one of them nearly made an impact.
Countering swiftly in the 54th minute after a South Korea attack broke down, the ball eventually broke to Fatemeh Pasandideh, who could only fire it straight at Kim Min-jung while off-balance.
Remarkably, it was another substitute who would make a difference but unfortunately, it would be to Iran’s detriment near the hour mark. Brought on to replace Choe, Lee Eun-young was tripped by Melika Motevalli less than a minute after entering the pitch.
Veteran Kim Hye-ri made no mistake from the spot by placing the ball into the bottom right corner, despite Yektaei getting a glove to it.
Kim then found an assist to go with her goal in the 75th minute as the right-back floated a perfect free-kick delivery for captain Ko Yoo-jin, who thundered her header into the top left corner.
&uuid=(email))