…See Semifinal Pairings And Timing Here.
Three times world women’s U20 champions, South Korea left it late to break the hearts of Canadians with a 2-0 painful victory to keep hopes of being back to back champions alive.
The Koreans silenced The Reds of Canada with the 1st goal in the 90+2 minutes when Choe Rim Jong scored through Ho Yong assist and would have rested the match there if not for Nigerian in Canadian shirt girl, Annabelle Chukwu who narrowly missed the equalizer in the 90+6th minute only for North Korea to instantly score her 2nd goal 90+7th minute through fast playing Ho Yong who was irrepressible after collecting a thorough pass from Choe Chong Gum.
Goals refused to rain despite North Korea forceful occupation of not Afghanistan like the Americans did but the defensive territory of Canada pumping 31-4 shots at goal, 9-1 on target of which the Canadian woodwork was hit twice causing tremendous panic that forced 14-0 corner kick advantage to North Korea. The stringing of 548-372 passes confused the Canada defence more which made them play rough in 12-8 foul calls.
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North Korea had an impressive performance worthy of champions scoring 11 goals before this quarterfinals and conceding none in 4 clean slates. Portugal was the first victim 2-0, Costa Rica was cannoned off 4-0, Columbia was de-clonned 3-0 and the high tech Japanese computerised tactics corrupted 2-0.
Canada drew 1-1 with England, lost 0-3 to Brazil, turned Tanzania to Tangerine with 6-0 and France was given 3-1 fried meat to go home with in the round of 16 giving Canada 10 goals scored and 5 goals conceded before the quarterfinals.
Both countries met twice sharing honours. On 12th August 2012 in a world cup group C match North Korea won 2-1 but in another world cup group A match played on 13th August 2014 Canada piped North Korea by a lone goal.
North Korea is at the party for the 9th of the 12 tournaments winning thrice in 2006, 2016 and are defending champions having won the last tournament in 2024 and now going for a back to back win. The Asians were runners up in 2008; placed 4th in 2014 and 3 times quarterfinalists in 2010, 2012 and 2018.
Canada never won the trophy but were runners up in 2002 when they hosted the maiden edition, were quarterfinalists twice in 2004 and 2014, lost once at R16 stage in 2024 but ousted 5 times at the group stages.
Earlier today Nigeria was painfully sent out by Columbia with an injury time goal in 90+2 minute.
Semifinal Pairings:
1. Spa vs Ita Wednesday@2pm
2 Col. vs NKor Wednesday@5:30pm
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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