North Korea pledged Thursday there will be no more sideline protests during their Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal with Australia after causing a stir against China.

Bangladesh captain Afeida Khandaker spoke to The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman about the AFC Women's Asian Cup experience and what lies ahead.

Japan stayed perfect in the women's Asian Cup group stage as they eased to a 4-0 win over Vietnam, who crashed out of the tournament.

“At times, it feels like a boxer entering a fight with one arm tied behind his back," Bangladesh coach Butler said after Uzbekistan clash.

Butler has also brought back experienced defender Sheuli Azim in place of Nabiran Khatun, while Tohura Khatun returns to the lineup, replacing fellow forward Shamsunnahar Junior.

Debutant Bangladesh are set to face Uzbekistan, the side closest to the women in red and green in terms of rankings in their group, in a Group B encounter of the AFC Women's Asian Cup at the Perth Rectangular Stadium today, with a number of achievements in sight.

No public reason was given for the players' original stance over the pre-game national anthem.

The two teams finished on seven points apiece in Group A with the Koreans topping the pool on goal difference.

Consecutive defeats have left both sides’ hopes hanging by a thread, but victory will give them a fighting chance to advance as one of the two best third-placed teams from the three groups. 

The one-sided romp left Japan top of Group C with a maximum six points having beaten Taiwan 2-0 to start their title bid.

North Korea and defending champions China both eased ominously into the Women's Asian Cup quarter-finals on Friday, joining South Korea and hosts Australia in the last eight.

Bangladesh struggled to replicate the proactive approach they had shown against China in their opening game.

South Korea cruised into the final eight with a dominant 3-0 win over an outmatched Philippines.

Vietnam, quarter-finalists in the last tournament, will play Taiwan on Saturday, when face two-time champions Japan at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

The highest ranked team in the competition at eight, Japan are desperate for a third title to add to their back-to-back triumphs in 2014 and 2018.

The Iranian team are preparing to face host nation Australia on the Gold Coast Thursday after losing their opening game of the continental competition 3-0 to South Korea.

As Bangladesh’s women prepared to face China at the AFC Women's Asian Cup, pride did not feel rhetorical.

Despite the conditions and statistics being heavily stacked against them, Bangladesh’s tigresses showed that they were more than willing to go toe-to-toe with one of the world’s finest sides.

The tragedy of Bangladesh women’s football is that it evolves despite the system, not because of it.

Bangladesh coach Peter Butler sprang a surprise by naming Mile Akter in goal ahead of long-serving No. 1 Rupna Chakma for their opening match of the AFC Women's Asian Cup against defending champions China in Sydney on Tuesday.