There is no stopping the Korean dream as the South Korea women’s national football team took early advantage of the Philippine Malditas, entering the finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the very first time with a 2-0 semifinals win Thursday afternoon in Pune, India.

The ageless Tottenham attacker Cho So-Hyun lifted the Taegeuk Ladies to an early lead in the fourth minute with a power header off a right corner kick by team captain Kim Hye-Ri.

The strike, Cho’s 23rd international goal and third against the Malditas, was so strong that it went past the touch of goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.

The Koreans made another excellent play in the 35th minute, where left back Choo Hyo Joo beautifully evaded the defense of Eva Madarang, issuing a nifty cross to Son Hwa-Yeon for a point-blank goal.

The Malditas had only one decent but paltry scoring chance in the first half but Sarina Bolden’s header off a Ryley Bugay head pass missed the mark in the 33rd minute.

The Taegeuk Ladies had several chances of drowning the Malditas in the second half but McDaniel had seven saves, with four coming from running attacks.

The Malditas had only one decent chance in the second half off a missed header by Katrina Guillou in the last minute of the game.

Making ‘herstory’

South Korea, now mentored by Frauen-Bundesliga veteran Colin Bell, has won its third game against the Philippines and is awaiting the semifinal winner between Japan and China later tonight for the finals on Sunday.

The Taegeuk Ladies first played the Malditas in a 4-0 win in the 2008 AFC Women’s Cup qualifiers and a decade later, won 5-0 in the 2018 AFC Asian Cup in Amman to deny the Filipinas a 2019 World Cup slot.

Cho was present in both games and she scored two goals against the Malditas in the 2018 edition’s battle for fifth place, where a World Cup ticket was at stake.

South Korea’s best performance in the continental tournament was third place in 2003.

The still undefeated Koreans won in shutouts against Vietnam and Myanmar before settling to a 1-1 draw versus defending champions Japan in Group C.

A monumental 1-0 upset against Australia set up the world number 18 team to an easier road to the finals against the 64th ranked Malditas.

The Malditas, for their part, have achieved a dream World Cup appearance after winning the penalty shootout in their quarterfinals game versus Taiwan.

They finish their best-ever Asian Cup with three wins and two losses and, for the first time, a +1 goal difference.

There is no battle for third in this year’s Asian Cup.

The Malditas, coached by ex-Australia Matildas coach Alan Stajcic, earned the 2023 World Cup slot by winning against regional nemesis Thailand for the very first time, aside from their first-time win against Taiwan and a 6-0 rout against Indonesia.

The qualifying tournament was also not easy last September 2021, as the Malditas were saved by late goals in their identical 2-1 wins against Nepal and Hong Kong.

“This team has grown so much. Just like in the past, look how far we’ve come, we’ve played against Myanmar, Nepal, and we’ve barely able to keep up with them and now look at us. We’re competing against Australia (and) Korea. I’m so fucking proud,” Bolden exclaimed after the game.

“A lot of people doubted us but we came here and fought every single game. And now we’ve made a name for ourselves. Philippines: You’re gonna remember this team and you will see us in the World Cup. So don’t forget about us because we’re coming back!” she concluded.