Women’s Football Asian Cup | Japan takes on old rival China; the Philippines goes up against Korea

The Philippines goes up against Korea

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup is finally at its business end. Defending champion Japan takes on celebrated challenger China while first-time World Cup entrant, the Philippines, has a tough task on hand when it goes up against Korea in the other semifinal of WAC 2022 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune on Thursday.

Winning the tournament this year will make Japan just the third side to manage an Asian Cup title hattrick. Standing in its way is an old rival — China. The two have clashed four times in the last five semifinals of the competition. With Japan winning three, including the last two.

China, the eight-time winner, last won the title in 2006 and Shui Qingxia’s Steel Roses will look to make amends.