China's Female Football Team Qualifies for Rio Olympics

The Chinese women’s football team has officially secured a spot in the 2016 Rio Olympics this summer following their defeat of the South Korean women’s team 1-0 in Osaka earlier this week. After beating Vietnam 2-0, drawing DPRK 1-1 and upsetting 2012 Olympic Silver medalists Japan 2-1, the win over South Korea earned the team enough points to qualify for the Olympics. It will be the team's first appearance in the Olympics since 2008.

The match was a nailbiter, with Wang Shanshan scoring China's only goal in the 43rd minute. The game got so competitive that players on both sides received yellow cards. 

But despite the loss — which knocked them out of the Olympics — the South Koreans were gracious in defeat. "I would like to congratulate the Chinese team," said Yoon Duk Yeo, South Korean's head coach. "They deserve this victory. But our players did the best they could." 

China faced Australia, the other Asian qualifier, earlier today. Australia clinched the top spot with a 1-1 draw.

[Image via FIFA]