The AFC Women's Asian Cup.

By Etsuko Miyazaki ADELAIDE: After two weeks of thrilling football action, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2006 reaches its climax tomorrow with the grand finale between seven-time champions China and the newcomers who are threatening to sweep all before them, Australia.

The match will not only decide who’s the best of the lot in Asia but also confirm a paradigm shift in power from the traditional East Asian teams like China, DPR Korea, Korea Republic and Japan to Australia.

The importance of the tournament can be gauged from the fact that it has been renamed as the Asian Cup for women, on the lines of the similarly named competition for men, and that it serves as the qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Both China – as hosts and finalists - and Australia have booked their berths in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and with the pressure off, the stage for a humdinger is truly set.

In the semifinals, Australia easily defeated one of the favourites Japan 2-0 while China struggled before eventually overcoming two-time defending champions DPR Korea 1-0.

A new-found measured aggression and water-tight defence have been the hallmarks of this Australian team, which has been ably led by experienced skipper Cheryl Salisbury and coach Tom Sermanni. The backline has been so effective that seldom has goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri been called into service, allowing the team to keep a clean slate against Korea Republic, Japan and even DPR Korea.

This is in contrast with China’s campaign so far. They have scored just five goals in four matches compared to Australia’s impressive tally of 13 and Ma Liangxing’s women have also conceded one in a potentially confidence-eroding defeat to Japan in the group stage.

But immediately in the aftermath of Ma Xiaoxu’s beautiful match-winner against DPR Korea, their hoodoo team in the last two editions, China regained their full confidence and rhythm, and in the remainder of that game looked every inch the team which romped to seven titles in the past.

With the main psychological hurdle crossed, Liangxing will be hoping that his team will do better than the 1-1 draw he oversaw the last time these two teams clashed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2003 in Los Angeles when Heather Garriock’s 28th minute opener was cancelled by Jie Bai a minute after the break.

The Chinese went on to lose in the quarterfinals by a solitary goal to Canada while Australia exited from the group stage.

The latest FIFA rankings also put China (eighth; second in Asia) ahead of Australia who are 15th worldwide but fourth in Asia.

The match kicks off at 1530 hours local time at the Hindmarsh Stadium.