Women's Asian Cup 2026: Matildas learn semifinal opponent as Chinese Taipei fans grapple with team name

The Matildas will face China PR in the semifinals of the Women's Asian Cup after the Steel Roses required extra time to see off a disciplined and spirited Chinese Taipei at Perth Rectangular Stadium.

China huffed and puffed for the entirety of an energy-sapping afternoon in the west, but was forced to wait until the 94th minute to belatedly blow the house down.

After a game of much personal frustration, hard-working centre forward Shao Ziqin curled home neatly from the edge of the penalty area, before a late own-goal earned China a 2-0 quarterfinal victory and a place at next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil.

A significant contingent of Taiwanese fans turned out to watch their home country fight admirably against one of Asian football's giants.

Leading an inspired rearguard action was second-choice goalkeeper Cheng Ssu-yu, only in the side after no.1 Wang Yu-ting was concussed in Chinese Taipei's final group game on Tuesday.

Cheng commanded her penalty area with authority throughout the afternoon, making seven saves and thwarting a lacklustre China penalty kick in extra time, ensuring her side pushed the defending champion and tournament titan all the way on a warm afternoon in Perth.

And the team from Taiwan's Australian sojourn isn't over just yet, with World Cup qualification going on the line against fellow quarterfinal loser North Korea on the Gold Coast on Thursday.

Taiwanese fans grapple with team name

Ranked 40th in the world, it has been an eventful tournament for Chinese Taipei, who finished second in Group C and saw a former coach of the men's side removed from the stands in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat of India after chanting phrases that referred to the team as "Taiwan".

The nation competes under the name Chinese Taipei due to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules, and many of the fans in attendance for the side's fighting quarterfinal loss in Perth sported blue jerseys featuring the team's AFC enforced moniker.

Among them was Sharon Huan, who said the name change had been "very controversial".

She said it was part of what had fuelled such a sizeable portion of the local Taiwanese community to attend the match.

"I'm not a fan of football but it's my own country … [so] cheering them on and supporting them in a foreign country is very special, very meaningful for us," Ms Huan said.

Fellow fan Vicky Li said the name change put fans in an uncomfortable position.

"We are coming today for our team, Chinese Taipei, so we want to help them fight and win the game," she said.

"I actually feel very bad about [calling it Chinese Taipei] because we are from Taiwan, so we want to just say 'Team Taiwan.'"

Ms Li said Taiwanese supporters understood they were not to refer to the team as Taiwan during the game.

The Chinese contingent was both less visible and seemingly less conflicted.

Chinese fan Eco Gao said he was mainly excited to see the Asian Cup come to Perth and hopeful of a good game.

"We're considered as one [country] anyway so there's not really any tension I believe in my opinion," he said.

"I just support both teams."

China finds a way to get the job done

China's Australian coach Ante Milicic made seven changes from the side that defeated North Korea 2-1 in its final group game, opting to rest a number of important players.

He may have been second-guessing that bold decision at various points in the match, as Cheng and some poor finishing prevented his side from breaking the deadlock in normal time.

The towering Shao was heavily involved throughout the game, winning headers and out-muscling the Chinese Taipei backline, but was culpable for a number of missed opportunities.

She was denied spectacularly by Cheng on a couple occasions, but was also wasteful in front of goal, unable to make the most of a slew of inch-perfect crosses from winger Zhang Xin.

Shao's interplay with elegant midfielder Wang Shuang was a welcome sight for football traditionalists, the pair playing a classic "big-woman, little-woman" routine in the final third.

And it was that combination that belatedly paid off for the Steel Roses, with Wang's cunning lay-off allowing for the powerful centre-forward to stroke the ball home early in extra time.

Wang has been one of the best players at the tournament and she continued her fine form in Perth, providing constant imagination at the point of midfield and orchestrating attacks.

But in a massive blow for the Steel Roses, Wang will be suspended for the semifinal clash with the Maildas.

She picked up a second yellow card for the tournament after making heavy contact with Chinese Taipei goalkeeper Cheng.

The Matildas will face a composed, dangerous — and potentially quite tired — China in their semifinal in Perth on Tuesday.

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