Japan beats NKorea for Asian Games football gold

GUANGZHOU, China (AP)—Japan won its first Asian Games women’s football gold medal by beating the defending champion North Koreans 1-0 on Monday in a fiercely contested final.

After a scoreless first half, defender Azusa Iwashimizu broke through with her historic header in the 74th minute, helping her jubilant team claim the Asian Games title.

The disciplined and experienced Japanese, led by U.S.-based midfielders Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama, managed to keep the determined North Koreans from scoring the rest of the game.

The win was retribution for Japan’s 2006 loss to the top-seeded North Koreans in a penalty shootout at the last Asian Games in Doha.

“Four years ago we lost to North Korea in the final. Now we are here, we are four years older and we have a better mentality that helped us win,” Japan captain Aya Miyama said. “As I was listening to our national anthem from the podium, I was more calmed than excited.”

The North Koreans blamed fatigue after a difficult, 2-1 extra time win over South Korea in the semifinals.

“They have never gone through a match like this, and losing this match is a good experience for them,” coach Kim Kwang Min said in comments translated at a post-match news conference.

The coach said he was disappointed not to deliver another gold for North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il.

“The leader … really is a women’s football fan. He takes good care of my players and looks at my players as if they were his daughters,” he said. “I’m sorry he couldn’t see their great efforts rewarded.”

Earlier Monday, South Korea claimed the bronze by beating China 2-0, reversing the result from four years ago when China won the third-place match.

The crowd at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou was raucous as Japan and North Korea played for the gold.

North Korea and Japan are historical rivals—Japan colonized Korea from 1910 to the end of World War II in 1945—and the match was heated on the field and off.

China remains North Korea’s main ally and has tussled with Japan over territorial disputes, and the fans were firmly behind the North Koreans. It translated into cheers for the Koreans and boos for the Japanese.

NKorea beats SKorea 3-1, reaches women’s final

GUANGZHOU, China (AP)—Ra Un Sim scored twice in extra time Saturday as defending champion North Korea beat archrival South Korea 3-1 for a spot in the women’s football final at the Asian Games.

North Korea captain Jo Yun Mi opened the scoring with a strike that soared past the South Korean goalkeeper just seconds before halftime.


South Korean substitute Yoo Young-a equalized in the second half from Jeon Ga-eul’s pass with just two minutes of regulation time remaining to force extra time.

Ra scored in each half of extra time, heading in Kim Kyong Hwa’s cross four minutes in and then scoring again to seal her team’s place in Monday’s final against Japan. The 22-year-old forward has scored three goals in these games.

South Korean coach Choi In-cheul said his team suffered from being down a player due to injury, and was exhausted from 120 minutes of game play.

“I congratulate the North Korean team because they won, but I think our team did the best they could,” he said.

The top-ranked North Koreans have won the gold at the last two Asian Games and are confident of defending their title.

The head coach for North Korea, Kim Kwang Min, praise his team’s speed as a key factor in their win against the South Koreans, but said they are looking ahead to a tough match against Japan, which edged China 1-0 in extra time earlier Saturday.

“The Japanese team is one of the best in Asia,” he told a post-game news conference. “This match will be very competitive and difficult.”

Asian Games - North Korea lost

The UAE defeated DPR Korea 9-8 in a penalty shootout after the two sides had battled to a 0-0 draw after extra-time.

Ri Chol-Myong had his penalty kick saved by Ali Housani in the UAE goal before Mohamed Al Shehhi tucked away his spotkick to send the Gulf side into the semi-finals.

Asian Games - North Korea - Vietnam

Asian Games - win against Vietnam

Guangzhou: Football powerhouse Japan crushed India 5-0 to move into the Asian Games quarter-finals on Tuesday where they were joined by DPR Korea who edged past Vietnam 2-0.

They stay in the gold medal hunt along with four-time champions Iran, triple winners Korea Republic, Uzbekistan and Oman who made the last eight on Monday.

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DPR Korea's clash with Vietnam was a much tighter affair, with Choe Kum-Chol 35th minute strike all that separated them for much of the match before Choe Myong-Ho converted a 91st minute penalty to seal the win.

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Asian Games - North Korea beat Jordan

North Korea beat Jordan 3-0 in final match in group stage in Asian Games .

Kim-Yong Jun scored in 18 min, Choe Myong-ho in 82 min and Choe Kum-Chol in 86 min

North Korea play Vietnam in Round of 16 on 16. November

North Korea drew Yemen

North Korea Men`s NT drew Yemen 1-1 away today.

The team is probably the same that competed in VFF Cup in Vietnam

Asian Games - North Korea win

North Korea won 3-0 against Palestine in second match in Asian Games (U23 +3) in China.

North Korea are already ready for next round.

Yemen friendly

North Korea NT play a friendly against Yemen on Wednesday in Sanaa.


North Korea Asian Games team play against Palestine same day in China

N.Korea celebrate 'major' victory over S.Korea

GUANGZHOU, China (AFP) - A confident North Korea was celebrating Monday after a "major" victory over arch-rivals South Korea at the Asian Games.

Ri Kwang-Chon got the decisive goal in the Group C game, heading home nine minutes before half-time, with Hong Myung-Bo's men unable to find a reply despite playing against 10 men for the final 25 minutes.

North Korean coach Jo Tong-Sop said his under-23 team, which includes a handful of players who featured at the World Cup in South Africa, was brimming with confidence and looking to go all the way here.

"Even though we had a player sent off, we were very confident and fought until the end," said Jo of the reclusive team.

"South Korea put great pressure on us, particularly in defence, but we still played very hard and achieved our goal.

"It was a major victory for us because we made a big study of Korea and their tactics."

Jo said he felt his team was capable of winning the gold medal, but they were also in Guangzhou to learn.

"Our objectives are simple—to enhance our experience of international matches. In addition, if we can play well we will try to qualify for the knockout rounds and win those games."

South Korean coach Hong Myung-Bo, who is looking to steer his team to their first Asian Games title in 24 years, was disappointed but not disheartened.

"Obviously it is very disappointing and unfortunate for us," he said.

"But we still have two more games to play and I believe that when we get our injured players back, we can win the next two games. I am confident we can still reach the final."

South Korea next face Jordan on Wednesday, while North Korea take on the Palestinian territories.

Asian Games - North Korea beat South Korea

North Korea beat South Korea 1-0 today in Asian Games in China.

RI Kwang Chon scored in 36 min .

Pak Nam Chol got red card in 65 min

North Korea celebrate double tournament victory

There was a double celebration for North Korea this weekend as national teams at two different levels emerged victorious in two separate international football tournaments.

The North Korean U16 side were crowned Asian U16 champions for the first time in their history on Sunday as they secured a 2-0 victory over 10-man Uzbekistan at the Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent, with late strikes from Ri Kwang-il and Jo Kwang giving North Korea their second Asian youth football trophy in less than a month following the U19 side’s victory over Australia at the Asian U19 championships in China in October.

The full men’s team were also celebrating victory on Saturday night as their two wins and a draw in the 2010 Vietnam Football Federation SonHa Cup was enough to put them top of the four-team group and earn their second piece of silverware on Vietnamese soil in the past two months.

The North Korean squad previously won the Thang Long-Hanoi Football Cup at the end of September, and in the opening match of the SonHa Cup on November 2nd they came back from a goal down with goals in the last ten minutes from Ri Myong-jun and An Il-bom enough to earn a 2-1 victory over Singapore.

A 1-1 draw with a South Korean University XI in the second game on November 4th, followed by their southern rivals falling to a 2-0 defeat to Singapore in their final game, meant that the North Koreans knew victory over hosts Vietnam in the final match would see them top the standings and their 2-0 win on Saturday evening at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium meant they were celebrating overall victory once again.


footkorean.net

North Korea lift VFF Cup

HA NOI — Myong Cha-hyon and Al Il-bom both scored to help North Korea to victory over Viet Nam and the VFF SONHA Cup at My Dinh National Stadium on Saturday.

North Korea, who beat Singapore 2-1 and drew with South Korea's U-23s 1-1, needed only a draw in their last game against the hosts, but they overpowered them in the second half to finish on a high.

The winners walked away with a US$20,000 cash-prize. Last month, North Korea also triumphed in the Millennium Thang Long Cup in Ha Noi.

Vietnam News

AFC U-16 Champions !

Tashkent: DPR Korea were crowned AFC U-16 Championship winners for the first time in history on Sunday after claiming a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Uzbekistan.

Backed by a capacity crowd at Pakhtakor Stadium the hosts were dominant from the outset and the DPR Korea defence were given their toughest test yet during the opening exchanges.

However, a straight red card after 30 minutes for Sardo Rakhmanov took the wind out of Uzbekistan’s sails and as the game wore on the balance of play began to swing in favour of the visitors.

It looked though as if the game would go to extra time only for late strikes from Ri Kwang-il and Jo Kwang to hand DPR Korea the trophy, the East Asian nation’s second youth title in less than a month following their under 19s success in China.

With the home fans in full voice, a nervous DPR Korea defence were looking somewhat shaky early in the game and gave away an early foul on the right side of the area. Timur Khakimov curled an effort towards goal that the visitors struggled to clear before Sardor Rakhmanov’s miss-hit shot went high and wide.

The crowd were celebrating in the 13th minute when Abbosbek Makhstaliev swept home but the goal was scrubbed out with the linesman having immediately raised his flag for offside.

Uzbekistan continued to threaten as Makhstaliev drilled a low free-kick that struck the bottom of the DPR Korea wall and fell at the feet of Muhammadjon Abdullaev, whose shot on the turn hit a defender before being cleared.

But the hosts were dealt a blow on the half hour when Rakhmanov was shown a straight red card after the defender leapt in feet first to challenge Jong Il-hyok.

Despite the man advantage DPR Korea were still yet to really threaten Ganisher Kholmurodov in the Uzbekistan goal and Jong fired high over the bar in the last effort of note for either side before the break.

Uzbekistan came out strong after the restart but DPR Korea had a good chance in the 55th minute when a mistake by Kholmurodov presented a chance for Kang Nam-gwon but the midfielder struggled to control the ball and sent his shot wide.

Ri Ji-song drove a low shot from the edge of the area straight at Kholmurodov 10 minutes later but the North Koreans were getting closer as Pak Myong-song stabbed a shot against the post after a free-kick had evaded almost everyone inside the area.

And their pressure eventually told when Khakimov was caught in possession just inside Uzbekistan’s half in the 74th minute and DPR Korea broke forward before Jo Kwang played a pass across the face of goal that presented fellow substitute Ri Kwang-il with a relatively simple finish from close range.

The game was then put beyond the hosts with five minutes remaining when the persistence of Ri Ji-song allowed Jang Ok-chol to have space down the left and his smart low cross was turned home at Kholmurodov’s near post by Jo Kwang.

afc.com

Jo Tong-sop to become North Korea national team manager

Reports from the North Korean camp ahead of the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games suggest that national youth team coach and 2010 World Cup assistant manager Jo Tong-sop has been appointed manager of the North Korean national team side.

Jo’s appointment to the top job sees him replace Kim Jong-hun, who led the team to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and has now returned to manage prominent domestic side April 25.

Jo previously led North Korea to victory over Japan at the 2006 AFC U-19 Championship and most recently tasted success in senior competition as he led the national team to victory at the AFC Challenge Cup in February, a victory that guaranteed participation in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar in January next year.

North Korea’s squad for the Asian Games contains ten of the players who travelled to South Africa in the summer, with defender Ri Kwang-chun and midfielders Pak Nam-chol and Kim Young-jun selected as the three overage wildcard picks.

First up for North Korea in Group C are their cross border rivals South Korea who they face at the Yuexiushan Stadium on November 8th, before facing Palestine on November 10th at Yingdong Stadium and then Jordan at the same venue on November 13th.

footkorean.net

North Korea win VFF Sohna Cup

North Korea won 2-0 against host Vietnam and won VFF Sohna Cup in Hanoi today

VFF Sohna Cup - North Korea drew South Korea U23

North Korea drew 1-1 against South Korea U23 University team in second match of VFF Sohna Cup in Vietnam

AFC U-16 - DPR Korea 2-1 Japan

Tashkent: Two first-half goals were enough to send DPR Korea through to the final of the 2010 AFC U-16 Championship following a 2-1 victory over Japan at Pakhtakor Stadium on Thursday.

Ri Song-ho’s side stormed ahead as Ju Jong-chol opened the scoring just minutes into the game before Pak Myong-song added a second in the 11th minute.

DPR Korea were clearly intent to shut up shop after that and it could have proved costly after Masaya Matsumoto halved the deficit midway through the second half.

However, the game petered out without any further real chances for either side meaning DPR Korea will tackle hosts Uzbekistan in Sunday’s final.

DPR Korea have been impressive performers in Tashkent and they quickly made an impression in this semi-final clash by taking a third minute lead.

Japan keeper Kosuke Nakamura flapped at a free-kick and the ball fell kindly for Ju who swept a shot between two defenders and into the back of the net.

The Samurai Blue were faced with a mountain to climb just eight minutes later when DPR Korea added a second as Ro Myong-song delivered a cross from the left that was headed on by Jang Ok-chol and Pak Myong-song poked home from six yards.

But, with the Japanese players likely deflated and the North Koreans happy to sit back, the pace of the game slowed down considerably with opportunities few and far between for either side.

With chances of victory already a tall order, Japan coach Hirofumi Yoshitake opted to throw on Reo Mochizuki and Masaya Matsumoto in the first half in a bid to reinvigorate his side.

The second half got off to a slow start but eventually Japan suddenly brought themselves back into the game with Yoshitake’s early substitution gamble paying off when the two combined just before the hour, with Mochizuki feeding a pass to Matsumoto who delivered a shot on the turn from the edge of the area and into the back of the net.

The goal brought Japan to life and they pushed forward from then on in search of an equaliser, coming close on a number of occasions through Minamino and Matsumoto.

But the threat of a thrilling finale never arrived as the game once again settled into a midfield battle and a harmless shot that flew over the bar from Kim Song-ho signalled the end of the match and with it DPR Korea’s passage to the final.

afc.com

VFF Sohna Cup - North Korea beat Singapore

North Korea beat Singapore 2-1 in first match of VFF Sohna Cup in Vietnam. Singapore was leading 1-0 after halftime . North Korea scored in 82 and 90 mi.

South Korea University NT beat Vietnam 2-0 in second match today

VFF Sohna Cup 2010 - Match schedule

2. Nov 16.45 DPR Korea - Singapore
19.00 Vietnam - Korea Rep U23

4. Nov 17.00 DPR Korea - Korea Rep U23
19.00 Vietnam - Singapore

6. Nov 17.00 Singapore - Korea Rep U23
19.00 DPR Korea - Vietnam

All matches in My Dinh Stadium

Vietnam FA

AFC U-16 - DPR Korea 4-0 Jordan

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.

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