Perth, March 13 -- Hosts Australia became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the AFC Women's Asian Cup after a 2-1 win over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday evening.
In the first match of the knockout stage, DPRK, ranked ninth in the FIFA world ranking, registered the first attempt of the game in the fifth minute as Kim Kyong Yong's close-range header from the center of the box missed to the right.
Four minutes later, Alanna Kennedy put the 15th-ranked Australia 1-0 ahead with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner, according to Xinhua.
Despite enjoying more possession and generating several dangerous opportunities, DPRK failed to find an equalizer as Australia kept the le...