So long the dominant side in women’s football in Asia, China PR had not won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup since being crowned continental champions for the eighth time back in 2006. 

Two goals down against Korea Republic in the final, that seemed unlikely to change until an amazing turnaround culminated in Xiao Yuyi’s stoppage-time winner and a record ninth title – six more than both DPR Korea and Chinese Taipei.

While the Matildas will have been disappointed with their showing at India 2022, star striker Sam Kerr yet again underlined her status as one of the greatest players Australia has ever produced.

The Chelsea striker finished the campaign as top scorer on seven goals, and, more significantly, surpassed Tim Cahill to become Australia’s all-time record goalscorer on 56.

The Philippines produced one of the stories of the campaign by progressing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time after, in just their second appearance at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, they advanced to the semi-finals to gain automatic qualification. 

And they will be joined in Australia and New Zealand by ASEAN rivals Vietnam, who defeated Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the playoffs to seal their own passage to the global showpiece. 

Japan midfielder Yui Hasegawa’s 10 completed dribbles were more than any other player managed in the competition, finishing one ahead of Australia’s Ellie Carpenter and China PR’s Wang Shuang. 

The Nadeshiko star was also on top when it came to chances created (15), with her Japanese teammate Hinata Miyazawa and Australia’s Kyah Simon both two back on 13.

A total of 104 goals rained in over the course of the tournament, with an average of 4.16 per match as five players – Kerr, Emily van Egmond, Yuika Sugasawa, Lai Li-Chin, and Kanyanat Chetthabutr – all netted hat-tricks. 

Korea Republic's Choe Yu-ri, meanwhile, had the honour of scoring the 100th goal of the competition when she put the Taegeuk Ladies in front in the final and seemingly on course for their first title. 

Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh made a competition-high 27 saves in her six matches at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with one goal conceded in the two playoff matches key to her side’s success. 

Myanmar’s New May Zin (21) and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ssu-Yu (19) came next on the list, although, by comparison, the pair played just three games.

At 16 years and eight months, Indonesian midfielder Helsya Maeisyaroh was the youngest player in the tournament, featuring in all three group stage matches and starting two of them. 

Conversely, Korea Republic goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi, who played every minute of her side’s campaign, was the oldest player at 37 years and three months.

Kanjanaporn Saengkoon of Thailand was the only player in the entire tournament to receive a red card, after her stoppage-time sending off in the playoff match versus Vietnam.

In the 25 games, meanwhile, there were just 37 yellow cards, a total that averages out at a little under 1.5 per game.

Only two players managed to score directly from free-kicks, with Japan’s Hikaru Naomoto and Chen Ying-Hui proving themselves the dead-ball specialists. 

Naomoto curled in a beauty off the woodwork against Myanmar in the group stage and Chen fired in a stunning effort from distance against Thailand in the playoffs.

And finally, Shui Qingxia became the first person to win the AFC Women’s Asian Cup as a player and a head coach after inspiring China PR’s superb second-half comeback in the 3-2 win over Korea Republic in the final. 

Incredibly, Shui, who has lifted the title in 1986, 1989, 1991, 1995, 1997 and now 2022, has not lost a single game in the continental competition.