Meizhou: China PR and Korea Republic both earned impressive 3-0 wins on the opening day the Four Nations Tournament, and will now meet in the revamped competition's final on Sunday.
With the traditional round-robin format replaced by a straight knockout system, China PR's win over Nigeria and Korea Republic's earlier success over Romania means the two Asian sides will meet to decide the champions.
CHINA PR 3-0 NIGERIA
A second-half brace from Li Ying followed Zhang Rui's early opener, as China PR turned in an excellent performance to comprehensively beat FIFA Women's World Cup-bound Nigeria by 3-0.
Jia Xiuquan's side made a strong start, and took an early lead when Zhang steered home a precise volley after a goal-mouth scramble following a set-piece in the ninth minute to give the Steel Roses their first goal of 2019.
AFC Women's Asian Cup top scorer Li Ying took control of the game in the second half, first latching on to Wang Shuang's through ball to slam the ball home in the 64th minute, before the lethal striker sealed the match with a second from a similar position in the third minute of added time.
China PR will now face Korea Republic on Sunday to decide who lifts the trophy, with the Steel Roses have claimed the January title in the last three editions.
KOREA REPUBLIC 3-0 ROMANIA
Korea Republic took another positive step on the road to this year's FIFA Women's World Cup, easily accounting for Romania with a 3-0 win in the tournament opener.
The 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Golden Boot winner Yeo Min-ji got the Koreans up and running when she opened the scoring in the 38th minute, and Jung Seol-bin had them well and truly on the road the victory when she doubled the tally six minutes later.
Lee Geum-min, also a member of the world champion youth team of 2010, added the third and final goal on the hour mark, ensuring Yoon Duk-yeo's side will play in Sunday's decider.
Source: the-afc.com