By Etsuko Miyazaki

ADELAIDE: Defending champions DPR Korea and hosts Australia completed the semifinal line-up of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2006 with victories over Korea Republic and Thailand respectively here on Monday.

DPR Korea had to fight hard before upstaging their neighbours 1-0 and finishing on top of Group B at the Hindmarsh Stadium while Australia booked their place in the last four with a 5-0 thrashing of Thailand at the Marden Stadium.

Australia will take on Group A winners Japan in the semifinals on July 27 while reigning two-time champions DPR Korea will be up against the might of seven-time champions China, the team they beat in the final of the last edition.

Korea Republic coach Ahn Jung-kwan made two vital changes from the previous squad by bringing in tall striker Cha Yun-hee and introducing Hong Kyung-suk, who earlier played as a defender on the left, in an attacking role, to win the battle in the air.

“For us a draw would have been enough but to prepare for the knockout stage we needed to have more confidence and improve our teamwork,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min minutes after the match. Had DPR Korea drawn the match they would have been pitted against Japan, who on current form look like the stronger team when compared to China.

Despite both teams being under immense pressure, the players hardly betrayed signs of nervousness and kicked off the game briskly. The first clear chance went to the champions on 17 minutes when Kim Than-sil provided a defence-splitting pass to skipper Ri Kum-suk who latched on to it expertly and unleashed a left-footed drive which went straight to a thankful goalkeeper Kim Jun-mil.

Korea Republic lost little time in replying when central striker Kim Joo-hee turned and fired six minutes later at the unsighted DPR Korea custodian Han Hye-yong who did well to keep the ball out of her goal.

But after this attempt the tempo died as both teams switched to an ultra-cautious mode and the action was anchored more or less in midfield.

Coach Kim Kwang-min’s charges went close twice in the last five minutes before the interval. Ri Kum-suk earned a freekick with a daring surge which saw her being brought down just outside the area. Ho Sun-hui’s ferocious left-footed drive was palmed off for a corner by the goalkeeper. Even as Korea Republic were recovering the shock Song Jong-sun lashed in a powerful shot from 10 metres out which missed the left goalpost by inches.

Upon resumption, DPR Korea started calling the shots and their rivals were lucky when Ri Un-gyong’s shot off a Ri Kum-suk pass from the goalline went agonisingly wide. However, eight minutes later Ahn Jung-kwan’s charges were not so lucky when substitute striker Kim Yong-ae connected with her right foot to a low cross from the centre to beat the custodian.

DPR Korea quickly marshalled their defences to preserve the advantage even as Korea Republic tried to hit back in vain.

“Our physical condition was not really good and this made it difficult for us in the first half. Korea Republic fought well and played much better than we expected,” said Kwang-min, whose charges are just two matches away from retaining the title for the third consecutive time.

On the semifinal against China, Kwang-min said: “We will do the same preparation as in the past.”

Rival coach Ahn Jung-kwan said lack of experience let his team down. “We haven’t had enough experience against strong opponents. But we played a nice match today…much better than the earlier matches. We created several opportunities but we could do only one thing – score goals.”

GROUP A: 1. Japan 9 points, 2. China 6, 3. Vietnam 3, 4. C. Taipei 0 GROUP B: 1. DPR Korea 10, 2. Australia 10, 3. Korea Republic 6, 4. Thailand 3, 5. Myanmar 0