Taiwan’s womens team came close but couldn’t get it done in an extra-time thriller against South Korea. Two debatable penalties– one given and one not– played a major role in the game’s outcome as the Mulan stood tall but ultimately were eliminated from the EAFF Finals qualification.
With victory giving the winner the final place in the EAFF Finals next year, the stakes were obviously high for both sides. On the part of Taiwan, there were a couple of surprises, with Saki Matsunaga and regular starting keeper Wang Yu-ting on the bench. Although it is unclear why; one would assume injury knocks was the reason, particularly with Matsunaga, but it will take time for the full story to emerge.
Despite missing two key starters, Taiwan were organized and compact, and after a goalless first half, it was possible to sense the nerves starting to creep in for the South Koreans.
However, sensing the need for a momentum shift, South Korea went with two halftime substitutions that quickly changed the game. One of the replacements, Yun Su-jeong, scored within minutes of coming onto the field, when she cut inside from the right, danced past two Taiwan defenders and finished firmly into the bottom corner.
Yun then helped her nation double their lead when she was fouled in the box, although it could be argued that the player was intentionally looking for contact as the ball got away from her. Regardless, the veteran defender Kim Hye-ri converted the spot kick and South Korea were finally looking confident.
At this point, Taiwan could have completely folded but with their backs against the wall, they instead found the energy to come storming back.
Within a minute of the restart, the Mulan had got a goal of their own when South Korea were caught off guard by the high press. Having stolen back possession, Su Yu-hsuan squared the ball across the penalty box and Hsu Yi-yun scored with a curling finish. Taiwan then equalized a few minutes later when more defensive pressure caused the South Koreans to fluff another clearance and this time Chen Jin-wen was there to fire home a rasping shot from twenty-yards to tie the game up.
With the game now level, South Korea continued to enjoy the better chances but both sides played cautiously as the game slipped into extra time.
With time almost expired in the first period of extra-time, the game had its biggest moment when Liu Yu-chiao looked to be fouled in the box only for the referee to wave play-on. The contact seemed obvious– and certainly to same degree as the penalty that had been awarded earlier but the match official was unmoved and VAR was not in use for this tournament. South Korea then retook the lead a few seconds later as Chan Pi-han misjudged an attempted through ball and Yun raced ahead to score her second goal on the night.
But Taiwan kept coming. Inevitably, the press was the key as South Korea were caught off guard by Taiwan’s relentless energy. When Kim Min-jung hesitated to clear the ball, Li Yi-wen was furiously chasing her down and the keeper’s flustered clearance bounced off the Taiwanese player and into the net for another equalizer.
By now the game had become utterly chaotic and it felt like the next goal would decide the game. Ultimately, that come from South Korea, who took the lead again with eight minutes to play. A cheap turnover suddenly opened Taiwan up to the counter attack and Jang Sel-gi had the entire left flank to herself as she charged into the box and scored.
With virtually the last touch of the game, Jeong Yu-jin made it five for the South Koreans with a header from an in-direct freekick but for all intents and purposes, the game was already over.
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