The win also earned the East Asian side their ticket to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024, finishing second in Group A on six points behind Australia, who beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 for their third win of the campaign.

Needing a win to be absolutely sure of their knockout stage berth, Korea Republic went in front after eight minutes when Hong Chae-bin put away a rebound after Yang Eun-seo’s initial shot had been blocked, with Eun-seo then doubling their lead two minutes later with a grounder that bounced on the wet surface past Fotima Bakhriddinova.

Uzbekistan were further punished in the 20th minute when Leyla Oraniyazova’s decision to hold onto the ball in her own penalty box saw a poor touch that set up Kim Ji-hyeon (pictured below, left) for an easy finish into the bottom corner.

It became 4-0 two minutes later as another Oraniyazova mistake in sending the ball back towards her own goalmouth was pounced on by Chae-bin, who applied an accurate finish beyond Bakhriddinova.

A great switch in play from the right to the left in the 34th minute released Hwang Da-yeong, who beat her first marker before laying the ball on for Chae-bin to complete her hat-trick with Hwang adding a sixth in first half added time.

Head coach Park Youn-jeong made three changes after the interval but Korea Republic continued to have a stranglehold on the game, increasing their lead through Eun-seo in the 49th minute followed by their eighth via Da-yeong in the 61st minute.

Eun-seo completed her hat-trick in the 66th minute and four minutes later, Korea Republic hit double figures when Ko Eun-bin’s corner kick delivery found Nam Seung-eun, who finished with a towering header

Uzbekistan replaced goalkeeper Bakhriddinova with Ezoza Sevinova and the latter’s first action was to unfortunately pick the ball out of her net after Kang Eun-young produced a rocket from outside the box straight into the top corner.

Korea Republic completed the emphatic win with further goals from Eom Mink-young (83rd) and Jeon Yu-gyeong (89th) and now await to know their semi-final opponents.