Tashkent: Striker Jo Kwang led from the front as DPR Korea sounded off an emphatic warning to the remaining 2010 AFC U-16 Championship teams as the East Asians advanced to the semi-finals with a well-deserved 4-0 win over Jordan at Pakhtakor stadium on Monday.
Jo, who was starting only his second game of the tournament, fired in a sublime hat-trick, while Ju Jong-chol also got on the score-sheet in the 71st minute to complete the impressive win for the North Koreans.
The win gives DPR Korea the prospect of reaching the title clash besides securing their ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico.
DPR Korea started the brighter of the two although Jo’s seventh-minute effort from six yards was well over the bar while his second attempt was wide of Jordan keeper Mohammad Abunabhan’s right-hand post.
After 21 minutes Tamer Sober had a chance in for the West Asians with his curling shot from just outside the box needing a finger-tip save from North Korean custodian An Kang-chol.
It was Jordan’s cue to press further, and a 27th minute corner almost gave them the lead when Omar Al Hasani struck a ricocheting ball from point-blank range only to have it cleared off the line.
However, DPR Korea drew first blood just after the half-hour, when an unmarked Jo struck a powerful left-footer from a tight angle past Abunabhan.
DPR Korea were on the offensive again after the interval, and just eight minutes into the second half Jo made a darting run into the box on a through-ball from the middle, but just when he was about to pull the trigger, Abunabhan was bravely out to smother the ball.
It was then that Jordan aimed to shore up their defence replacing midfielder Sameer Suleiman with defender Majd Ananzeh.
But that could not prevent Jo from once again beating his markers in the 55th minute to be on the end of a superb cut back from Pak Myong-song and fire home DPR Korea’s second of the night.
Jordan finally made changes to their attack after 68 minutes, replacing defender Basil Abuhelweh with midfielder Omar Dwaik, but to no avail, as just three minutes later, Ju struck DPR Korea’s third, cutting in from the right to power home from some 15 yards.
Jong Kwang-sok almost added to DPR Korea’s joy after 74 minutes but his curling free-kick from outside the area was well saved by Abunabhan.
But Jo was not denied his hat-trick, popping up unmarked in the box in the 77th minute, to comfortably slot in Jang Ok-chol’s cross.
afc.com
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