AFC POSTPONES DPR KOREA V MALAYSIA ASIAN CUP QUALIFIER

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided that because of the geo-political tension on the Korean Peninsula the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifying Final Round match between DPR Korea and Malaysia, scheduled for Pyongyang on June 8, 2017 should be postponed.

The game will now be re-scheduled for the next best available FIFA match-day which is Thursday, October 5, 2017.

Although the AFC had proposed on May 8, 2017 that the match – which was already postponed from March 28, 2017 – take place in the DPR Korea capital, recent developments have forced the AFC to reconsider the decision on the grounds of safety and security.

The AFC will closely monitor the safety and security position in coming months as well as the AFC Cup match between Kigwancha SC (DPR Korea) against Erchim FC (Mongolia) to be played May 31, 2017 as well as the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers - Group G to be hosted in Pyongyang, DPR Korea from July 19-23, 2017.

After those matches, the AFC will make a decision of the venue for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier on October 5, 2017.

http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-postpones-dpr-korea-v-malaysia-asian-cup-qualifier

4.25 SC WIN TO SEAL SPOT IN AFC CUP KNOCKOUT PHASE

Ulaanbataar: Kim Yu-song scored a hat-trick as DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC confirmed their place in the next phase of the 2017 AFC Cup on Wednesday with a comfortable 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Erchim that guarantees the club Pyongyang top spot in Group I.
Victory moves 4.25 SC onto eight points from four games so far and the Pak Myung-hun-coached team cannot be surpassed at the summit by Kigwancha due to 4.25’s superior head-to-head record over their compatriots.

Dulguun Tumurbaatar deflected Kim’s shot past his own goalkeeper midway through the first half to give 4.25 the lead before An Il-bom doubled his side’s advantage from close range five minutes before the break.

Kim scored a second 12 minutes after the restart when he lifted the ball over the advancing Ariunbold Batsaikhan and, with 21 minutes to go, Ro Hyong-jin converted from the penalty spot. Kim side-footed home his third of the day and ninth of the competition with five minutes remaining to complete the rout and send 4.25 SC through to the Inter-zonal Play-off Semi-finals.



http://www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2017/match-report/competition/821/season/2017/matchid/906700

AFC CUP 2017 - GROUP I: KIGWANCHA SC 2-2 4.25 SC

Pyongyang: Kim Yu-song's sixth goal in three 2017 AFC Cup matches saw 4.25 SC salvage a point in injury time after they came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with fellow DPR Korean side Kigwancha SC in Group I on Wednesday.

Having played out a 1-1 draw two weeks ago in the first of two Pyongyang derbies, Kigwancha went ahead on 35 minutes through forward Rim Kwang-hyok before substitute Ri Un-il doubled the lead just a minute after he entered the field on the hour-mark.

Captain An Il-bom replied for 4.25 SC on 70 minutes to halve the deficit but defender An Song-il's sending off four minutes into added time looked to have ended any hopes of a come-back.   

However, there was a final twist in the tale as Kim had the final word on the 98th minute as the group remains alive with the two DPR Koreans level-pegging at the top. 

Mongolia's Erchim FC, five points behind but with two games to play against both Kigwancha and 4.25 SC, also retain a slim chance of a place in the Zonal Semi-finals.

http://www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2017/afc-cup-2017-group-i-kigwancha-sc-2-2-425-sc