Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun will be hoping to create further South Korean footballing history when Colin Bell’s side take on Uzbekistan in their latest 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification match on Thursday.
The 30-year-old was on target in South Korea’s 12-0 victory over Mongolia on Friday. Her goal was her 59th for the South Korean national team. The player was already the all-time record goalscorer for the women’s team by some distance but Ji’s goal on Friday saw her also move clear of the men’s national team’s top scorer Cha Bum-kun who previously held a record goal tally of 58. Ji is now therefore the overall record goalscorer in South Korean international footballing history.
Ji is likely to start for South Korea against Uzbekistan at The Pakhtakor Central Stadium on Thursday with the player chasing her next milestone of 60 goals as a senior international. Like South Korea, Uzbekistan also defeated Mongolia 12-0 in their opening qualifying match. The nation are, however, ranked some 25 places below latest opponents South Korea in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and it is Bell’s side who go into Thursday’s game as favourites.
In addition to Ji, there is plenty of Barclays FA Women’s Super League representation in the South Korean side these days. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Cho So-hyun and Brighton & Hove Albion forward Lee Geum-min were also on the scoresheet for South Korea against Mongolia last week.
South Korea’s 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification match against Uzbekistan kicks-off at midday (BST) on Thursday.