France beats NKorea 5-0 in women's Olympic soccer

By FRANK GRIFFITHS (Associated Press)

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- France scored four goals in the last 20 minutes and beat North Korea 5-0 Saturday in the group stage of the women's Olympic soccer tournament.

Defender Laura Georges gave France the lead with a powerful header just before halftime, and her teammates did the rest near the end.
Substitute Elodie Thomis added the second in the 70th minute, then set up Marie-Laure Delie for the third a minute later. Wendie Renard netted a header from a corner in the 81st, and Camille Catala completed the rout with another header in the 87th after Thomis sent in a cross from the right.
"At the beginning of the match, the players were nervous," France coach Bruno Bini said. "In the second half, we played high quality football."
The win puts France in second place in Group G ahead of North Korea on goal difference with three points.
"We have the three points and we're second in the group," Bini said. "Now, we're just focusing on getting to the quarterfinals."
North Korea faces the United States in the last group match, and France will take on Colombia.
North Korea coach Sin Ui Gun said that the late kickoff in his team's previous match because of a flag dispute may have affected his team's preparations. London Olympic organizers displayed a South Korean flag alongside North Korea's players on stadium screens at Hampden Park for the match against Colombia.
"Because of the delay, we had to finish the game late ... so maybe it affected our players' ability today," Sin said. "We still have one more match to go. Today's match is a good lesson and will motivate our team."

2012 Olympics - North Korea 2-0 Colombia FT

North Korea women`s NT  won 2-0 at HT against Colombia in first match in 2012 Olympics in London

Kim Song Hui scored in 34. min and 86 min

Flag blunder at Hampden

LOCOG apologises for showing South Korean flag

 national flag blunder at Hampden Park caused North Korea to stage a protest at Wednesday's Olympic women's football match against Colombia.

The South Korean flag was shown by mistake on the big screen inside the stadium as the players warmed up on the pitch prior to the match.
As a consequence, North Korea refused to play the match at the scheduled 7.45pm start time.
Their players walked off the pitch but were persuaded to return when the teams were announced again with each player's face displayed next to the North Korean flag.
A statement from Games organisers LOCOG said: "Today ahead of the women's football match at Hampden Park, the South Korean flag was shown on a big screen video package instead of the North Korean flag.

Mistake

"Clearly this is a mistake, we will apologise to the team and the national Olympic committee and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again."
The mistake occurred when a video package was being shown ahead of kick-off, with the North Koreans noticing their faces were being pictured alongside the South Korean flag.
The match eventually began at 8.50pm after the team were placated.

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Wales fall to North Korea

The Wales women's side lost 4-2 to a strong Korea DPR side at Stebonheath Park on Thursday evening.
The match was a unique opportunity to play a team from the other side of the world and as such was a great experience for Jarmo Matikainen's squad as they prepare for the new season. That will include a crucial Euro Women's game wit5h Scotland on Saturday 15th September at Parc y
Scarlets in Llanelli.
Wales started brightly and took the lead on 12 minutes when a goalmouth mix-up in the Korea area gave captain Jess Fishlock the chance to fire-hoe from close range. It stunned the visitors who had made a steady start to the first ten minutes of the game.
The lead was held for just ten minutes however, as Korea launched a high ball into the Wales area and Wales keeper Nicola Davies failed to take the ball and Choe Young Sim got there first to head home at the far post.
Four minutes later it was 2-1 when Kim Un Hyang scored from another high ball into the box from a free kick. Davies was second best once more and the visitors had the advantage.
Both sides looked to play some attractive football on a good, flat surface, but it was clear that the Koreans were getting stronger as the game went-on and justifying their position as one of the World's strongest women's teams.
Half time came with the score at 2-1 and an opportunity for Jarmo Matikainen to give the Wales team some words of encouragement.
Korea made three substitutions at half time and continued where they left off in the first half by having much of the possession. On 55 minutes they made it 3-1 after a defensive mix-up allowed substitute Ri Ye Gyong to poke the ball home.
To their credit, the Welsh heads did not drop and striker Hannah Keryakoplis was introduced after 62 minutes to replace Hayley Ladd.
Wales found a way back into the game on 70 minutes when captain Jess Fishlock took a free kick from some 30 yards out that went straight over everyone's head and into the goal. It gave the side fresh hope and two more subs entered the game for Wales with Amie Lea (79m) and Jodie Botteril (85m for her first cap). Korea also kept the subs coming thick and fast with another four changes.
The game was settled in the 86th minute when substitute Kim Myong Gum scored at the far post to make it 4-2.
At the whistle, Wales could be pleased with a very committed performance against a class-outfit. A great work-out at a very early stage of the new season. There are two more friendlies in Belgium to come in August before the game with Scotland.

Wales FA