Two missed penalties, yet a 5-0 win? South Korea women's ruthless attacking display leaves former coach Colin Bell stunned [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] Shin Sang-woo’s South Korea women's national football team opened the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in perfect fashion, unleashing a formidable attacking display. The emphatic victory was even more notable because it came against Colin Bell, the former coach who had led South Korea women's national football team for many years.
Led by Shin Sang-woo, South Korea women's national football team crushed Myanmar 5-0 in Group F’s opening match of the women’s football tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, held at Nagoya Stadium in Osaka, Japan, on the 14th. After the men’s basketball team, they became the second South Korean team to begin its Asian Games campaign, recording an impressive victory.
The match drew considerable attention even before kickoff because of the intriguing storylines surrounding the two coaches. Colin Bell, who had led South Korea women's national football team until recently, was in charge of the Myanmar bench. The Taegeuk Ladies, however, showed no hesitation in front of their former coach. They demonstrated the clear gap in quality and produced the best possible scenario: a high-scoring shutout victory.
Kim Min-ji of Seoul Metropolitan Government was unquestionably the chief architect of the win. Since earning her first call-up last year, Kim Min-ji had rapidly become a key player for the national team, and she tore Myanmar’s defense apart with a hat trick. Veteran full-back Jang Sel-gi of Gyeongju KHNP Women's Football Club also played a starring role at both ends of the pitch, contributing one goal and two assists to lay the foundation for the rout.
After an opening period of probing, South Korea took the lead in the 29th minute when Kim Min-ji fired a sharp left-footed shot from near the arc into the net. Just four minutes later, in the 33rd minute, Kim Min-ji headed home Jang Sel-gi’s precise cross to quickly extend the advantage. Jang Sel-gi then scored herself in the 38th minute, sending South Korea into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

South Korea produced a few disappointing moments after the break. In the third minute of the second half, Choe Yu-ri of Suwon FC Women missed a penalty kick she had won herself. In the 21st minute, star player Ji So-yun of Suwon FC Women also failed to convert from the spot.
Their goals from open play, however, remained devastating. In the 14th minute of the second half, Kim Min-ji received Jang Sel-gi’s cutback and calmly finished with her right foot to complete her hat trick. Choe Yu-ri, who had been frustrated by her missed penalty, then collected a long-ball pass in the 31st minute and scored in a one-on-one chance against the goalkeeper, putting the finishing touch on the 5-0 goal fest.
South Korea women's national football team, whose best-ever Asian Games finish is a bronze medal in 2010, 2014 and 2018, are targeting their first-ever gold medal at this tournament. After warming up with a dominant win over Myanmar, Shin Sang-woo’s side will face Bangladesh women's national football team in the second group-stage match at 4 p.m. on the 17th, before meeting North Korea women's national football team in a decisive third match at 4 p.m. on the 21st.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter