(LEAD) (Asiad) S. Korea beat China to win women's football bronze
(ATTN: ADDS comments from coach, player at bottom)
By Yoo Jee-ho
NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea defeated China 1-0 to claim bronze in women's football at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday.
Noh Jin-young's fourth-minute header goal stood as the winner for the Taegeuk Ladies at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, about 100 kilometers east of the main host city, Nagoya. This is South Korea's fourth bronze medal at the Asian Games, and first since 2018.
Noh Jin-young of South Korea (R) scores against China during their women's football bronze medal match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Japan, on Oct. 2, 2026, in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)
South Korea had not defeated China for 11 years until Friday, ending a stretch of five draws and six losses against the fellow Asian side.
Noh headed home a pass from Choe Yu-ri after a South Korean free kick, and South Korea held China without a shot on target in the first half.
Goalkeeper Kim Kyeong-hee made a big save on Shao Ziqin five minutes into the second half, and the South Korean defense in front of Kim hung on to preserve the one-goal victory.
South Korea head coach Shin Sang-woo thanked his players for battling hard for the bronze, even though they did not accomplish their ultimate goal of winning the country's first gold.
"Because we opened the scoring so early, our players became so nervous and they lacked detail in their plays at times," Shin said. "That is why we were not able to score the second or the third goal. But our defenders did their best to keep the other team from scoring."
Shin said having played some of the top women's football nations at the Asiad -- namely the two finalists, North Korea and Japan -- should help his team prepare for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup.
South Korea held North Korea to a 1-1 draw in the group stage, but lost to Japan 2-0 in the semifinals.
"I think playing those powerful teams has been the biggest gain for us here," Shin said. "And no matter whom we play, we have to show the kind of fight that we showed today and we have to be finer with our details."
Noh, the match's lone goal scorer, said she was happy to take home a medal, though it was not of the color she and her teammates wanted at the beginning.
"I hope the confidence we gained from this tournament will help us at the World Cup next year," Noh said.
Noh Jin-young (R) and Choe Yu-ri of South Korea celebrate Noh's goal against China during their women's football bronze medal match at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Japan, on Oct. 2, 2026, in this Reuters photo. (Yonhap)
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