Penalty heartbreak for DPR Korea

Baku: DPR Korea had to settle for second place at the 2012 FIFA Women's World Cup following a 7-6 penalty shootout defeat to France in Saturday's final at the Tofig Bahramov Stadium.
DPR Korea went into the match looking to claim top honours for the second time in three tournaments following their triumph in the inaugural event in 2008 as well as ensuring a hat-trick of title for Asia, with neighbours Korea Republic winning the 2010 tournament with a penalty shootout win over Japan.
However, the North Koreans found themselves a goal down 33 minutes into a first-half totally dominated by the French, with Lea Declerq slotting the ball home after latching on to a superb pass from Ghoutia Karchouni.
Having failed to muster a single shot on target in the first period DPR Korea came out strongly after the interval and got the equaliser their pressure deserved with 11 minutes remaining.
Choe Yun-gyong's long-range effort hit the woodwork but Ri Un-sim was ideally placed to convert the rebound for her tournament-topping eighth of the campaign.
The Koreans could have sealed the win in the closing stages but Choe headed narrowly wide from a corner before Ri Hyang-sim – who ultimately emerged with the Silver Ball award for the tournament's second best player behind France's Griedge Mbock Bathy – also missed from close range sending the match into a shootout, which was won by France as Ri Un-yong missed her spotkick.
It was the first time a team from Europe had won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup but still another impressive campaign for Asia, with the Fair Play award going to Japan, whose midfielder Yui Hasegawa picked up the Bronze Ball award as the competition's third best player.

source : afc.com

North Korea withdrew from VFF Cup

North Korea will not participate in VFF Cup in Vietnam as scheduled in late October.

Laos replacing them.

DPR Korea to final in FIFA U-17 Women' s World Cup

Baku: DPR Korea stormed into the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2012 after beating Germany 2-1 thanks to an opportunistic brace by Kim So-hyang at 8-km Stadium on Tuesday.
The Koreans will face off against France on Saturday for their second title after winning the inaugural edition in New Zealand 2008. Germany will clash with Ghana for the third place also on Saturday.
The Koreans started sharp as Kim’s header went just wide of the goal post in the early seconds, sending a signal of things to come. Ri Un-sim controlled possession and dictated the patterns of play with her sharp passing as the Germans struggled to get to grips of the first half.
But the Koreans’ pressure was too much to handle and Germany’s defence finally crumbled on 39 minutes as Kim got on the end of a lucky deflection and scored the simplest tap-in to give the Asians the lead.
Kim again capitalised on the confusion in the German rearguard to slot home an opportunistic goal just two minutes after the break. Germany cut the deficit in the 59^th minute when Rebecca Knaak headed home a free kick from Theresa Panfil, but that was all for the Germans.
"I am so happy today,” said Hwang Yong Bong, the DPR Korea coach. “I think our players tried their best today in this match.
“Germany has very good players on their side and they were a very strong opponent."

afc.com

Iran friendly cancelled

North Korea`s men`s NT friendly against Iran on 9. October been cancelled by Iran.

Next is VFF Cup tournament in Vietnam playing against Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Iran U22 in the end of October

Ri brace bags DPR Korea semi slot

Baku: Ri Un-sim’s late brace catapulted inaugural champions DPR Korea into the semi-finals as they beat Canada 2-1 in their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2012 outing at 8-km Stadium, Azerbaijan, on Thursday. The Koreans will meet their semi-final opponents next Tuesday, either in the form of Germany or Brazil, which will be decided in their quarter-final match on Friday. Summer Clarke and Nichelle Prince were the ones who got the Canadians to a brighter start when they got behind the Koreans’ backline, but they squandered both chances. Ri Hyang-sim also should have done better for DPR Korea, having earlier on miss-hit a cut-back from Ri Kyong-hyong and cross from Ri Kum-suk. Choe Yun-gyong and skipper captain Choe Choung-bok tried from a distance as the Koreans took control of the slow half but failed to create clear-cut chances. A cross from Ri Hyang-sim did find Choe Yun-gyong free at the far post on 27 minutes but her header sailed straight to goalkeeper Kalien Sheridan. The Asians remained in control with coach Hwang Yong-bong making two substitutions but chances were still at a premium. The second half slowly started with Summer Clarke jolting the Koreans after being put through by Nichelle Prince but the ball only rattled the bar. The Koreans hit back but Sheridan was up to the task against efforts from Ri Kyong-hyong and Choe Yun-Gyong. The elusive goal finally arrived after 78 minutes when Ri Hyang-sim displayed a superb skill to beat the Canadian full-back to cross from the right and found undefended striker Ri Un-sim at the back post. It was game over on 87 minutes, Ri Un-sim pouncing on a loose ball to slot home and bag her seventh of the tournament. Nichelle Prince took the Canadians one up on 90+1 minutes but it was too little too late to make a difference. "I’m very happy of today’s performance,” said coach Hwang. “I think we played very well, as Canada is a strong team, that nobody can’t underestimate. “The key to the match was tactical. The two changes I made in the first half paid off – I did it because I thought Canada was very dangerous on this wing." Pic: FIFA/Getty Images afc.com