China tied with South Korea 1-1 in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-19 Women's Championship Group B last game in Chongqing on Tuesday, settling the runners-up of the group and sending the latter to the top.

 

 

China's Ma Xiaoxu (2nd R) celebrates scoring during the Group B last game against South Korea at the AFC U19 Women's Championship in southwest China's Chongqing municipality, October?9, 2007. The match ended 1-1. (Photo: Xinhua)

 

China scored first in the 41st minute when Ma Xiaoxu, the AFC best women player of 2006, found the net with a shot on the edge of the penalty zone.

 

Jung Hae In leveled the score on 80 minutes.

 

Both sides played all out in the extremely tough duel.

 

"The South Korean team is mature, and its players showed better skills in the game. We played in high morale and I am satisfied with my players," said China coach Gao Rong Ming at the post-match press conference.

 

South Korea coach Lee Young Ki said: "The two teams played hard during the game, and the result is satisfactory...The ways of scoring showed the styles of the two teams."

 

In another Group B game, Thailand defeated Chinese Taipei 2-0.

 

South Korea and China will meet Japan and DPR Korea, the top two teams from Group A, in the semifinals on Saturday. But the fixtures will be decided after the last round Group A games on Wednesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2007)