“I have a lot of confidence in my individual abilities and also in my teammates. So I am sure that we will be able to produce a good result in the semi-final,” said Myeong-jin. “Since entering the competition, we have been focused on winning the title and I don’t think we will have too much difficulty in advancing to Saturday’s final.”

The number seven said the sting of defeat in the 2023 AFC Women’s Club Championship™ final to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies still lingers among her teammates, which, she claimed, has been the driving force behind their collective efforts.

“They were disappointed with how things ended in the AFC Women’s Club Championship, which is why the entire squad is fully focused on emerging as champions this year,” she said.

“If we go on to become champions, it will be extremely meaningful as it will be a great instance of our teamwork, of something we achieved as one team. Moreover, in the future, as the league grows, we will always be remembered as the first-ever winners.”

With Korea Republic’s Red Angels entering the last four without facing defeat and conceding only two goals, Myeong-jin is confident that the right mix of the team’s defensive and attacking abilities will serve them well when they take the field against their Australian rivals.

“I think our team is quite balanced and we know how to apply pressure both in the defensive zone and also while attacking,” she said.

“In the last two years, I’ve had significant exposure in international competitions, which has taught me a lot and I am hopeful that experience will help me,” added the 22-year-old, who recently had her first senior team call-up for the Pink Ladies Cup earlier this year, having already featured at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022.