Chonburi: A second-half penalty from captain Ri Su-gyong steered DPR Korea into the AFC Women’s U-16 Championship final, and secured qualification for the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, as they overcame China PR 1-0 in a gripping semi-final on Wednesday.
The hard-fought win means DPR Korea continue their remarkable record of never finishing outside of the top two at Asia’s U-16 women’s Finals since making their first appearance in Malaysia in 2007.
China PR’s defeat is their third in a row to DPR Korea at the semi-final stage, but they will still seal their place at the U-17 Women’s World Cup should they beat either Japan or Korea Republic in Saturday’s match for third place.
The respective teams made one change each from their final group stage fixtures, with goalkeeper He Peibin coming in for China PR and winger Yun Ji-hwa replacing Kim Kyong-hui for DPR Korea – and both players made key contributions to the first half.
Yun, who had scored against Bangladesh and Australia before being benched against Japan, was the driving force behind seemingly every DPR Korea move, and created a number of early chances for her teammates.
The left winger nearly gave DPR Korea the lead herself, only for her goal-bound effort to be turned wide by He Peibin, but their best chance fell to Kim Ryu-song, whose firmly struck half-volley brought out the best from the Chinese custodian.
China PR withstood the early barrage and gradually looked more comfortable and, although attacking forays of their own were few and far between, they managed to do what no other team in Thailand 2017 had, and kept DPR scoreless to half-time.
Shortly after the break China PR breathed a collective sigh of relief when Kim Yun-ok’s floating cross sailed beyond the outstretched arms of goalkeeper He, and brushed the crossbar before deflecting harmlessly out for a goal kick.
DPR Korea’s luck changed in the 57th minute, when Zhang Linyan brought down Ryu-song in the penalty area, and Vietnamese referee Cong Thi Dung duly pointed to the spot,
Captain Su-gyong stepped up to slam home her fifth goal of the tournament off the underside of the corssbar, and give her side into a deserved lead.
Ri Su-jong nearly doubled the lead in the 66th minute, only to be denied by a fabulous reflex save by He, and DPR Korea coach Song Sung-gown had his head in his hands when Yun blasted a shot over when she had looked odds on to score four minutes later.
While DPR Korea’s lethal forwards weren’t quite at their best, their miserly defence was as diligent as ever, and – for no lack of trying – China PR were simply unable to find a way to goal.
They fashioned a late chance when they were awarded a late free kick, but - with four minutes remaining – Jin Jing’s effort sailed well over the bar, and DPR Korea sealed yet another berth in the final.
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com