China defeat Uzbeks, set up North Korean Cup showdown

China have bolstered their Women's Asian Cup defence with a 3-0 defeat of Uzbekistan. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Defending champions China have continued to roll at the Asian Women's Cup, setting up a showdown with North Korea for top spot in Group B by defeating Uzbekistan 3-0 at Western Sydney Stadium. 

With China featuring a host of changes to the side that defeated Bangladesh on Tuesday, Shao Ziqin's penalty on the half-hour let the Steel Roses break through an embedded Uzbek defence, before Li Qingtong scored in the 51st and 77th minutes to secure victory.

Moving them level with North Korea on six points atop Group B, the result secured China's progression to the knockout stages.

But they'll need to defeat the Koreans on Monday to top the group and avoid either Australia or South Korea in the quarter-finals, with their goal difference of plus-4 trailing their rival's plus-8.

"It worked well for us," China coach Ante Milicic told Paramount. 

"The girls felt comfortable and I thought that we're in control. 

"(We) maybe probably could have scored a little bit more, but the understanding was good."

Competition was often fierce in the middle, but China was able to assert their superiority. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

China took quick control of the first-half and Kholida Dadaboeva's lazy yank of Ziqin's shirt before Zhang Xin could swing in a corner broke her side's resolute defending and allowed the attacker to strike from the spot. 

The holders would go on to possess nearly 80 percent of the ball and outshoot their opponents 26 to none across the 90.

But wasteful finishing and some strong saves from Uzbek keeper Maftuna Jonimqulova threatened to render this statistical dominance largely moot.

However, Li's calm shot into an open net after Jonimqulova collided with teammate Maftuna Shoyimova and Wu Chengshu as the trio competed for a cross allowed China to double their lead.

And the midfielder was then in the right place to meet a superb delivery from Zhang after a short corner routine to seal the result.

Nonetheless, after limiting the damage to their goal difference, coach Kotryna Kulbyte's side remain in contention to advance to the knockout stages as one of the two best third-placed finishers, so long as they're able to defeat Bangladesh next Monday.