…Lost to Local Rival Japan 4-1 after 1-1 at Full-time in the Semifinal.
An injury time costly error denied four times U17 Women’s football champions, North Korea their third consecutive appearance at the age group tournament as Japan overwhelmingly outscored them via penalty shootouts 4-1 after the Asian Derby ended 1-1 at Full-time.
North Korea was on the way to emphasis victory as Ri Ui-Guong got the opening goal off a set pieces from Yu Jong-Hyang in the 52nd minute but an own goal by Won Sol-Gyong in the 90+4 minutes changed the destiny of North Korea.
In the resultant penalty shootouts Japan scored all their four penalty kicks through Ota, Shimizu, Yotsumoto and Tanaka. Ri Pole-Rim scored North Korea’s 1st kick while Eh Chong-Gum and Kim Ju-Gyong lost theirs.
Ref Shaw Maclaren Clarly of Canada who will be 30 years on 12th December was at the head of proceedings that saw North Korea dominate the match with 20-7 shots at goal, 3-1 on target, stringing 430-396 passes in 54-46% ball possessions. North Korea were only not clinical as they made 33-9 shots inside their opponents box hitting the woodwork twice and getting 3-1 corner kick advantage.
Journalists had given the match to North Korea based on present and old performances. North Korea had whipped Puerto 6-0, punished Poland 6-1, and shockingly lost 1-3 to Nigeria, mauled hosts Morocco 6-0 in the round of 16 games and stopped the Yankees of USA 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
Japan zipped up Zambia 5-0, beat France 2-0, beaten Venezuela 2-0, canned Kenya 3-1 in the round of 16 games and piped Ghana by a lone goal in the quarterfinals.
Read Also:FIFAU17FWC: Nigeria causes Historical upset, Beats Four Times World Champions, North Korea 3-1.
FIFAU17FWC: Ghana Sends Out Argentina 5-4 on Penalty shootouts to Reach the Quarters.
Both sides who are from the same block of the Asian Football Confederation CALLED EAFF like Nigeria and Ghana is in WAFU of CAF had met five times three of which were at the world finals of the age group.
At the same semifinal of the 2010 Games Japan earned her only victory 2-1 on 22nd September; the 2016 grand finale ended in penalty shootouts like today and North Korea won 5-4 after a goalless full time; at a pre world cup friendly of 19th May 2024 North Korea won by a lone goal; at the quarterfinals of the 2025 games North rode on their back 5-1 to lift her 4th title and at the 2026 pre world cup meeting of 17th May North Korea whipped Japan 5-1.
North Korea is now down graded to fight the loser of the Nigeria versus Brazil 2nd semifinal match which is ongoing on Saturday at 4pm for the Bronze.
The final is at 7pm on Saturday
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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