China PR seal U-20 Women's World Cup return after win over Australia
Clinching third place at AFC U-19 Women's Championship secures France 2018 ticket
Return after four-year absence clinched after 3-0 victory
Goals from He Luyao, Xie Qiwen and Jin Kun saw China PR run out 3-0 winners against Australia in the AFC U-19 Women's Championship third-place play-off, seeing them clinch Asia's final FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018 ticket.
Having missed out on the previous edition at Papua New Guinea 2016, the world's most populous nation sealed their return to the global showpiece thanks to the stewardship of Dutch coach Hesterine de Reus, joining already-qualified Korea DPR and Japan.
Having spurned their first chance at a place in the global tournament thanks to semi-final defeats, with Australia eliminated by 2016 world champions Korea DPR, both teams entered the crunch tie determined to clinch the remaining berth. The Young Matildas pressed forward from the outset but it was the tournament hosts that looked more dangerous, with wingers Liu Jing and Kun constantly threatening.
Winning an impressive eight corners in the opening period, China managed to make one count, with Luyao pouncing on a weak clearance to open the scoring on twenty minutes.
The hosts then picked up where they left off after the restart, building momentum through their fluid passing before two quickfire goals put the game beyond doubt. Midfielder Qiwen slot past the goalkeeper to double the lead on 53 minutes before Kun ran on to Wang Yanwen's pass to make it 3-0.
The desperate Australians threw whatever they had forward as they sought a lifeline, but the hosts looked more likely to extend their lead as they clinched both a bronze medal and a trip to Brittany for France 2018.