Reigning champions DPR Korea edged hosts China 1-0 in the AFC Women's Asian Cup semifinal here on Thursday.

The semifinal winners will qualify for next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.

DPR Korea, who are gunning for their fourth title in five editions, will face Australia in the Asian Cup final on Sunday, the latter beat Japan 1-0 to reach the final earlier Thursday.

"We missed a lot of chances today because our team are quite young and lack of experiences," said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang Mim. "I am very proud of my players that they fought to the last minute."

China's Xu Yuan (L) vies with a player of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during their semifinal match at the AFC Women's Asian Cup in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 27, 2010. DPRK won 1-0.

China will take on Japan in the third-place playoff on Sunday, and the winner will qualify for the World Cup next year in Germany.

"We performed quite well at the beginning, but DPR Korea are stronger than us," said Shang Ruihua, coach of the Chinese team. "We've expected to play the penalty shootout, but failed due to a mistake made by ourselves."

"I am satisfied with my players," he said. "It is the best game we played here at the Asian Cup. Now we still have chances for the World Cup, and we'll do our best."

"Japan have the best techniques of the last four teams," Shang added. "I didn't expect that they could be beaten by Australia, just as I didn't expect that we could lost due to one of our mistakes. But it is football. We will be very well prepared."

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