Also in today’s roundup, Copa America Femenina returns with final round action, Chelsea and Arsenal books their spots in the FA Cup Final and Lauren Barnes is named Melbourne City’s POTY
In today’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup fifth place match, South Korea became the fifth team from the region to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France after beating the Philippines, 5-0. Through the first 30 minutes, the game was deadlocked at 0-0, but four minutes past the half hour mark, South Korea got on the board for the first time. Jang Sel-gi put one away in the 34th minute to give South Korea the 1-0 lead. With time running out in the first half, South Korea doubled their lead thanks to Lee Mina.
Coming out of the break, South Korea went up 3-0 after Lim Seon-Joo scored in the 56th minute. Cho So-hyun put two away, one in the 66th minute with a header off a corner and another as a penalty kick in the 84th minute to give South Korea the 5-0 lead that they would take through the end of the match.
South Korea joins China, Thailand, Australia and Japan as qualifiers for France coming out of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Argentina 3, Colombia 1
In the opening game of the final round of the Copa America Femenina 2018, Argentina took it to Colombia with a 3-1 win. It was Colombia, however, who took the lead in the first half with the help of a Liana Salazar goal in the 31st minute. Colombia then took the 1-0 advantage into the halftime break, but the second half proved a different story than the first. Argentina wasted no time once the whistle blew, and Maria Florencia Bonsegundo equalized for Argentina four minutes into the second half. Soledad Jaimes and Marcela Coronel each notched one for Argentina in the 67th and 71st minute, respectively. Argentina held onto their 3-1 lead through 90 minutes and took home the win.
45’+4 ¡Culminó el encuentro en La Portada! @Argentina ?? derrotó por 3 goles a 1 a @FCFSeleccionCol ?? y suma los primeros 3 puntos en el #Cuadrangular de la #CopaAméricaFemenina2018 ?
⚽️: María Bonsegundo, Marcela Coronel, Soledad Jaimes (ARG); Liana Salazar (COL) pic.twitter.com/Ekq8C1AXGq
— Copa América Femenina Chile 2018 (@CAFemChile2018) April 16, 2018
Later tonight, Brazil is set to take on Chile in the final round as well.
Chelsea and Arsenal booked their spots in the FA Women’s Cup Final
Yesterday, both Chelsea and Arsenal were victorious in their semifinal match-ups in the FA Women’s Cup to lock in a place to compete against each other in the final at the start of next month.
Arsenal defeated Everton 2-1 with some late-game dramatics as defender Louise Quinn put away a stoppage-time header in the 91st minute to solidify Arsenal’s place in the final.
In the second semifinal, Chelsea defeated Manchester City, 2-0, to claim their spot in the final thanks to Fran Kirby’s brace. Kirby notched an early goal in the 5th minute and then doubled her side’s lead with a calm finish in the 74th minute to claim the win for Chelsea.
Both semifinals were broadcast live on BBC for the first time in the competition’s existence.
Arsenal and Chelsea will compete for the FA Women’s Cup title on May 5.
Lauren Barnes named Melbourne City’s Player of the Year
Seattle Reign FC defender Lauren Barnes was named by the W-League champions, Melbourne City, as the Player of the Year for the 2017-2018 season. In her season with Melbourne City, she was an instrumental part of their championship-winning run.
What a season. What a set of special ladies! Congratulations to all of our @WLeague award winners, especially Player of the Year, @laurenkb31! pic.twitter.com/dknlK4l3mc
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 16, 2018
Barnes helped her club to a league-leading seven shutouts and notched two assists herself throughout the season. Head coach Patrick Kisnorbo praised Barnes for not only her play, but for her passion as well.
“Lauren has been exceptional for us in an outstanding team,” he said in the team’s official release. “She is one of the most hard-working and dedicated athletes, plays with her heart on her sleeve and set out to achieve wonderful things with this team. She has been a positive and inspirational role model for our younger players [and] led by example throughout the season.”
Steph Catley, a teammate of Barnes both in Seattle and at Melbourne City, picked up the Coach’s Award on the season. Jess Fishlock, also of the Reign, won the Golden Boot award after tallying a league-leading seven goals on the season.