Taiwan’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in 32 years were dealt a blow Sunday after the women’s national team lost to the Philippines in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup.
The Philippines defeated Taiwan 4-3 on penalty kicks after the two sides played to a 1-1 draw to crack the final four of the tournament being played in India in a bubble and secure one of the five automatic 2023 Women’s World Cup up for grabs at the Asian Cup.
Taiwan went down 1-0 just after halftime but a brilliant shot in the top right corner just over the hand of Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel by Zhuo Li-ping (???) evened the match in the 82nd minute.
Neither team scored in extra time, but after each side made three of their first five penalty kicks, only the Philippines could convert on the next try, sending it into the semifinals of the Asian Cup to face South Korea.
Taiwan can still grab a spot in the Women’s World Cup if it takes the top spot in a round-robin with two of the other Asian Cup quarterfinal losers – Vietnam and Thailand.
The other team ousted in the final eight – Australia – is already assured of a spot in the 2023 Women’s World Cup as a co-host of the tournament with New Zealand.
Taiwan’s only previous appearance at a Women’s World Cup Finals came in its inaugural edition in 1991, when the national team advanced to the quarterfinals.
A women’s soccer pioneer in Asia, Taiwan is a three-time Asian champion, having won the title in 1977, 1979, and 1981.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel