Fany Gauto (top) of Paraguay vies for the ball during a Group C match against Chinese Taipei at Play-off Tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
Chinese Taipei squandered a 2-0 lead and lost 4-2 to Paraguay on penalties in the play-offs for the 2023 Women's World Cup, missing the chance to appear in the finals of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Taipei lost to Paraguay on penalties and Panama won over Papua New Guinea on Sunday, the third day of the Play-off Tournament of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in New Zealand.
In the Group C match held in Hamilton on Sunday, Chinese Taipei led 2-0 for 75 minutes, but a resilient Paraguay side leveled 2-2 and claimed the eventual victory 4-2 through penalty shootout.
Also in Group C, Panama beat Papua New Guinea 2-0 in Auckland.
Paraguay and Panama will play each other on Thursday to vie for a ticket to the Women's World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.
Players of both sides react after the penalty shoot-out during a Group C match between Chinese Taipei and Paraguay of the Play-off Tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, Feb. 19, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
The ten participating teams in the Play-off Tournament are divided into three groups, with Group A including Portugal, Cameroon and Thailand; Group B including Chile, Senegal and Haiti; and Group C including Papua New Guinea, Panama, Paraguay and Chinese Taipei.
The winner of each group will earn a spot in the Women's World Cup finals. On Wednesday, Cameroon will play Portugal in the Group A final, while Chile will take on Haiti in Group B.
It is the first time in FIFA's history that a Play-off Tournament is held as qualifiers for the Women's World Cup. The tournament is hosted from February 17 to 23 in Auckland and Hamilton. ■
