…Dethrone North Korea 4-3 via penalty shootouts after Goalless Full Time.
The ambition of North Korea to win the world U20 Women’s Football cup for the 4th time and win it back to back as defending champions was Sunday at the Stadion Miejski Lks Lodz in Poland dashed by La Roja Babes of Spain via 4-3 Penalty Shootouts after a pulsating Goalless full-time.
North korea won the toss to kick start the penalty kicks and Ho Kyong scored, star girl Chon Yon A unfortunately lost her kick, then came Ri Pom and Jon II-Chong who scored and the hope for a come back for North Korea placed before Pak OK Sim was lost too.
Spain must have trained for penalty shootouts as none of their players missed their kick. MARISA scored first, Celia Segura. Carla Julia and Daniella Agote scored in that order.
39 year old Charly Deretti of Brazil who played football from age 11 herself was the main Ref before 18 029 fans. She had handled France vs South Korea, China vs Nigeria and North Korea vs Japan. She caught Spain with 17-8 fouls and awarded 16-9 free kicks to North Korea.
Spain had a better edge over North Korea in the match with 69-31% ball possession, stringing a great 837-364 passes that made North Korea look less tactical even with Spain getting 22-11 shots at goal in 8-6 of them on target.
Spain that has dominated world football in many categories again got the U20 title for the second time after 2022.
Read Also:2026U20WWorldCup Semi Final: La Roja Babes Of Spain Spins Out Italy 2-0
2026U20WWorldCup: Samba Dance Stopped As Spain Pip Brazil 1-0 in Quarterfinal.
Check the list of Wnners:
Year Host Winner Scores Looser
2002 Can USA. 1-0 AET Can
2004 Thai Germ 2-0 Chi
2006 Russ Nko 5-0 Chi
2008 Chile USA 2-1 Nko
2010 Germ Germ 2-0 Ngr
2012 Jap USA 1-0 Germ
2014 Can Germ 1-0 aet Ngr
2016 Papua Nko 3-1 Fra
2018 Fra Jap 3-1 Spa
2022 CRC Spa 3-1 Jap
2024 Col Nko 1-0 Jap.
2026 Spa 0(4) Nkor 0(3).
Former defending champions, North Korea had beaten Columbia 3-0, canned Canada 2-0, canned Japan 2-0, walloped Costa Rica 4-0, canned Columbia again 3-0 and canned Portugal 2-0. Great and nice Teachers giving brief punishments with 16 goals, only team that refused to concede a goal in six matches meaning North Korea had 6 clean slates.
Spain spanked Italy 2-0, spanked Brazil 1-0, spanked Portugal 2-0, spanked Chile 3-1, spanked Nigeria 2-0 but drilled New Caledonia 11-0. Great Teacher too.
Spain remains the highest scoring team of Poland 2026U20WWorldCup with 21 goals though North Korea has 16 goals next. Spain had five clean slates out of six and the only country that scored against Spain is Chile. That scorer deserves an award and North Korea need to quickly employ him as Technical Adviser.
Spain and North Korea met once at this age group at the quarterfinals of the 2016 world cup on 24th November which North Korea won 3-2 after extra time. It was Nkor 2 Spa 1 at half time.
Spain had five appearances at the mundial and were champions in 2022, runners-up in 2018, twice quarterfinalists in 2016 and 2024.
North korea 8 appearances were champions thrice in 2006, 2016 and 2024, runners-up in 2008, placed 4th in 2014 and thrice quarterfinalists in 2010, 2012 and 2018.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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