Chinese Taipei won 5-0 against Iran ©Getty Images

Chinese Taipei secured second place in Group A of the Women's Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup with a 5-0 thumping of Iran at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai which all but ended their opponents' hopes of making the quarter-finals.

Lai Li-chin scored a hat-trick for Chinese Taipei, opening the scoring in the fourth minute and grabbing a second in the 31st.

Chen Yen-ping made it three before the break and Lai completed her hat-trick with a penalty in the 65th minute.

Wang Hsiang-huei scored the fifth.

Iran's chances of making the knockout round are effectively over as they are pointless following an earlier 7-0 loss to China.

Group A has been disrupted by COVID-19, with hosts India being forced to withdraw from the competition due to an outbreak meaning they were unable to field a team, and India's earlier draw with Iran was declared null and void. 

Lai Li-chin scored a hat-trick against Iran ©Getty Images
Lai Li-chin scored a hat-trick against Iran ©Getty Images

Because of this, rules for determining the best third-placed teams have been changed, with results against the teams that finish bottom in the four-team groups discounted.

Two third-placed teams will qualify, but Iran are highly unlikely to be one of them given their goal difference is now -12.

Iran need Australia to defeat Thailand by at least 11 goals if they are to stand a chance of getting a place in the last eight. 

Vietnam play Myanmar in Group C tomorrow, and the winner is guaranteed to advance.