TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's women's soccer team launched their 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 8-0 demolition of Pakistan in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Monday (June 30). The overwhelming victory marks a powerful opening statement in Group D, where Taiwan faces stiff competition from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and tournament host Indonesia for the single qualification spot to the prestigious 2026 Australia Women's Asian Cup.
The offensive onslaught began early when midfielder Pu Hsin-hui (普馨慧) broke the deadlock in the 14th minute with a fortunate deflected shot that eluded Pakistan's goalkeeper. Taiwan's dominance continued as striker Chen Chin-wen (陳妗文) doubled the advantage before overseas standout Su Yu-hsuan (蘇育萱) added a third, sending Taiwan into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead. The second half brought no respite for the Pakistani defense as Hsu Yi-yun (許翊筠) unleashed a spectacular long-range strike in the 65th minute, followed by Pu completing her brace and late goals from Liu Yu-chiao (劉于喬) and Ho Chia-hsuan (何家瑄) to complete the emphatic 8-0 rout.
In post-match comments, head coach Chen Hsu-ming (陳曉明) candidly addressed his team's somewhat sluggish start, attributing the initial lack of sharpness to Jakarta's oppressive tropical heat and humidity. Chen praised his squad's responsiveness to tactical adjustments made during the halftime break, which visibly elevated their performance in the second period. "The players showed a stronger desire to score, and the young substitutes performed excellently," Chen remarked, expressing satisfaction that the emerging talents had fulfilled the coaching staff's expectations in their international debuts.
Taiwan's campaign continues with minimal recovery time as they prepare to face Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, a match widely viewed as a critical test in their qualification journey. Soccer analysts expect a more challenging contest against the Central Asian side, whose physical style contrasts sharply with Pakistan's approach. With tournament organizers allowing just one team from Group D to advance to the 2026 Australia Women's Asian Cup, every match carries heightened significance in Taiwan's quest to secure their place in the prestigious continental championship. ◼