With manager Patrick De Wilde naming an unchanged starting line-up from the previous victory over Vietnam, Taiwan seemed confident about making it two wins in a row. However, Thailand— who had lost their previous game, 8-0, to hosts Japan— had no intention of lying down and and both teams traded shots on goal amid a back-and-forth first half.

But eventually, Taiwan started to take control of the game. Teenage midfielder Liao Jie-ning went close with 63 minutes played only to see her shot saved by Chotmanee Thongmongkol.

The Mulan eventually got the breakthrough fifteen minutes later when Tanaka finally broke free in the final-third of the field. Having dribbled past one defender, the forward had opened up enough space to unleash a shot from about twenty-yards that Thongmongkol was able to get a hand to but could not prevent from crossing the line.

There would still be further opportunities for Taiwan to extend their lead but with the game drifting towards injury time, Su Yu-hsuan was unable to convert the opportunity she had been waiting the whole game for.  Thankfully for Taiwan, there would be no nervous end to the match and they eased their way to the final whistle and another three points.

Now safely into the knockout phases of the tournament, the coaching staff now need to decide whether they rest the starters for the final group game against Japan– who themselves qualified for the next round after a thumping 8-0 win over Vietnam. Whoever plays against the Nadeshiko will be in for a long night at the office but the key takeaway is that Taiwan have advanced for a fourth consecutive Asian Games knockout round.