China’s women sealed a last-ditch spot at the Tokyo Olympics
football on Tuesday by squeezing past South Korea 4-3 on aggregate, a thrilling
conclusion to a qualifying campaign dogged by coronavirus delays.
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Former Paris Saint-Germain forward Wang Shuang scored the
winner in extra time in front of 13,000 jubilant fans in Suzhou, after South
Korea recovered from a 2-1 first-leg home deficit.
Wuhan native Wang lashed the ball into the bottom corner
from just outside the box in the first period of extra time to torpedo South
Korea’s hopes of playing at the Olympics for the first time.
Players from both teams collapsed at the end, in what was
the final chapter in a long qualifying campaign for the Asian rivals.
This decider — one of two remaining berths for this summer’s
delayed Tokyo Games — was scheduled for March last year but was postponed three
times because of the coronavirus.
China’s coach Jia Xiuquan said afterwards that he was
struggling to express himself because the emotion was still raw.
“The key word should be ‘not easy’ — it was not easy because
of the delay to this match,” he said.
“But during the past year we worked hard and we deserve this
result. It is everyone’s hope that we can keep growing and have success, and
win the Olympics.
“With our team spirit, everything is possible.”
The coronavirus hung heavily over the tie. The Suzhou
stadium announcer told the crowd to keep their masks on and social distance,
while medical staff in full protective bodysuits watched from the sidelines.
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