WUHAN - China's Wuhan Jiangda advanced to the final of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League, following a commanding 2-0 win over Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City FC here on Wednesday.
Cheered on by nearly 5,000 home supporters, Wuhan took control of the match early. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, when local star Wang Shuang pounced on a poor clearance and curled a stunning strike into the net.
The momentum continued in the second half. Just nine minutes after the restart, Song Duan unleashed a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. The ball dipped sharply, leaving the Ho Chi Minh City goalkeeper with no chance and sealing Wuhan's place in the final.
"The pressure forced our players to grow, and they rose to the challenge united as a team to secure this 2-0 victory," said Chang Weiwei, Wuhan's head coach.
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The squad has endured an exhausting schedule this season, simultaneously competing in the Chinese Women's Super League, the National Sports Games' qualifiers and the AFC Women's Champions League.
"It put a great challenge to our physical condition. Hopefully, we'll recover to our best state in the following two days and bring a spectacular match to our fans," said Wang.
Wuhan maintained much of the same lineup from its quarterfinal clash against Japanese powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds. Despite being under pressure in that match, the team held its nerve and triumphed in a dramatic penalty shootout, knocking out the tournament's favorite.
The final will be held on Saturday, where the five-time Chinese Women's Super League champion will face either South Korea's Hyundai Steel Red Angels or Australia's Melbourne City FC.
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"We'll analyze the other semifinal tonight. Once I know our opponent, we'll make tailored tactics. But whoever the competitor will be, we'll stay true to our style and fight until the final whistle. Hopefully, we'll finish the journey with no regrets," Chang added.
