Showing posts with label 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. Show all posts

17 October 2010

AFC U-19 final - Highlights



Asian Champions !

Zibo: Jong Il-gwan scored a hat-trick as DPR Korea edged a thrilling AFC U-19 Championship final against Australia 3-2 at Zibo Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday for their second title in four years.

In what was a fine advertisement for Asian youth football, Jong (pictured) grabbed his first of the night early in the first half before the balance of play swung in Australia’s favour as Kerem Bulut scored twice in four minutes.

However, the Koreans equalised just before the break through Jong and the striker – comfortably the star performer of the night – grabbed the winner shortly before full time with an instinctive strike following a mistake by Australia keeper Mark Birighitti.

DPR Korea’s impressive performance at the tournament has been built on a solid defence that had been breached just once prior to the game and they ensured Australia had their work cut out by taking the lead in the 10th minute.

Jong picked up the ball just outside the area before embarking on a mazy run through the Young Socceroos’ defence, dodging the legs of defenders before hitting a low shot beyond Birighitti.

Australia had a golden chance to level matters just eight minutes later though when DPR Korea goalkeeper Om Jin-song punched a cross straight at skipper Ben Kantarovski but his shot struck a defender.

They were not to be denied in the 25th minute, however, when a cross was whipped in from the left and striker Bulut directed a powerful header beyond the reach of Om and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

It got even better for the Australians when they took the lead just four minutes later. FC Utrecht’s Tommy Oar danced his way through the DPR Korea defence and though his shot was initially denied by Om, the ball fell kindly to Bulut who side-footed home for his seventh goal of the tournament.

The twists and turns of the first half continued though as DPR Korea equalised two minutes before the break when Jong knocked the ball beyond Daniel Bowles to give himself a free run on goal and although his powerful low drive struck a defender, the ball ballooned over a hapless Birighitti and into the back of the net.

After such an enthralling first 45 minutes it was no surprise that the second half got underway at a much slower pace and for first 15 minutes play was largely contested in midfield.

Pak Song-chol dragged a shot wide for DPR Korea after 62 minutes before Australia’s Mustafa Amini rifled a shot the wrong side of the left post soon after but those were two of very few chances as the game seemed destined for extra time.

But a howler from Birighitti gifted DPR Korea the winner two minutes from time when he fumbled a harmless-looking cross and the ball fell at the feet of Jong, who superbly lifted a shot over retreating defenders and into the net.

afc.com

15 October 2010

DPR Korea 2-0 Korea Rep








Zibo: DPR Korea sealed their place in the final of the AFC U-19 Championship for the second time in four years as they defeated neighbours Korea Republic 2-0 at Zibo Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday.

Jong Il-kwan opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time before Ri Hyok-chol added a late second to set-up a meeting with Australia on Sunday.

The defeat for Korea Republic means the 11-time champions have now crashed out at the semi-final stage in the last three tournaments.
After a tentative start from both sides Korea Republic were the first to forge an opportunity in the 10th minute when Ji Dong-won rose higher than his marker but could only direct a weaker header straight into the hands of keeper Om Jin-song.

DPR Korea had yet to trouble No Dong-geon in the opposite goal although Mun Hyok forced Hwang Do-yeon to make a last-ditch clearance after muscling his way into the area to chase onto a long pass from midfield.

The game was slowly creaking into life as the half wore on as first Kim Kyung-jung sent a header wide for Korea Republic after 20 minutes before Jang Kuk-chol drove a low effort into the hands of No five minutes later.

Yun Il-gwan was running riot down the right wing for DPR Korea and he almost produced the opening goal 10 minutes before the break when he skipped the challenge of a defender to run into the area but drove his shot from an angle straight at No.

DPR Korea were dominating the latter stages of the half and they dealt a huge psychological blow to their rivals by taking the lead on the stroke of half time.

Yun Jong-su’s side were awarded a free-kick on the left side of the area and Ri Hyong-jin whipped the ball in towards the near post where Jong flicked a powerful header into the back of the net.

They almost added a second immediately into the second half when Jong found himself in space inside the area but No did well to gather the forward’s rasping drive at the second attempt.
But DPR Korea had to be alert at the other end of the pitch in the 55th minute when a free-kick was played to the far post where Hwang was left unmarked but his downward header was denied by Om.

Eager to protect their slender lead DPR Korea went on the defensive and consequently Korea Republic enjoyed a period of dominance, although they were finding themselves continually frustrated by a defence that had been breached only once before at the tournament.

And it was heartbreak for Korea Republic though 12 minutes from time when Hwang hit a back pass to No far too short and substitute Ri Hyok-chol was quick to pounce on his error, knocking the ball beyond the goalkeeper and then side-footing home to wrap up the victory.


Source :afc.com

11 October 2010

China 0-2 DPR Korea

Zibo: Hosts China crashed out of the AFC U-19 Championship at the quarter-final stage as second-half goals from Jong Il-gwan and Pak Song-chol saw DPR Korea claim a 2-0 win at Zibo Sports Centre.

Following an even first period, Jong broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when he burst clear and beat keeper Yan Junling with a low finish.

Pak then doubled the lead two minutes later when the forward ran at the China defence before despatching a shot into the back of the net.

The opening 25 minutes featured plenty of endeavour from both teams but was short on goalmouth action with defences on top as they were able to snuff out any danger with relative ease.

Ri Hyong-jin tried his luck from 30 yards but his shot was well wide before Jang Kuk-chol's cross picked out Jong at the back post but he headed back across goal and China cleared.

Murehemaitijiang Mozhapa's good work down the left ended with a cross that found Li Zhilang at the back post but his volley was parried by Om Jin-song in the 34th minute before Tan Tiancheng's 25-yard shot sailed straight into the arms of the Korean keeper.

Two goals in two minutes early in the second-half then turned the game on its head.

First, Jong broke into the box and managed to steer a finish past keeper Yan and into the corner of the net to give the Koreans the lead.

With the stunned hosts still trying regroup, Pak then embarked on a long run, twisting and turning before accelerating past a defender and beating Yan from the right side of the box.

Tan then headed Murehemaitijiang's cross disappointingly wide when unmarked just after the hour mark and Pak fired a fierce effort over the bar.

Zhang Xizhe's header from Wang Tong's centre was too high and Murehemaitijiang saw his volley held by Om as China desperately looked for a way back into the game.

The Korean keeper had to be brave to come out and smother at Zhu Jianrong's feet with Yun Jong-su's side defending manfully while looking to threaten on the counter.

Wu Lei fired wastefully over from 12 yards with four minutes to go as the Koreans held out under sustained pressure from the hosts and book their place in both the semi-finals and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia next year.

afc.com

North Korea ready for World Cup !

North Korea beat China 2-0 today in quarterfinals in AFC U-19 Championship. Ready for semifinals and qualified for FIFA U-20 World Cup !

07 October 2010

North Korea ready for quarterfinals

Linzi: DPR Korea will play hosts China in the quarter-finals of the AFC Under-19 Championship after securing second place in Group B with a 2-0 win over Bahrain at Linzi Stadium on Thursday.

The 2006 winners defeated Iraq in their second game of the group stage on Tuesday to move level on three points with Bahrain and ensure there was all to play for.

DPR Korea were the better side throughout this encounter though and second-half goals from Ri Hyong-jin and Pak Song-chol secured the three points to see them finish their group stage campaign in second place behind Uzbekistan.

The East Asians were clearly brimming with confidence following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Iraq and it was they who threatened first when Pak Song-chol launched an effort over the bar from the edge of the area.

Yun Jong-su’s side continued to dominate possession and Jang Kuk-chol tried to get the better of two defenders midway through the half but Sultan Thani reacted quickly to poke the ball back to goalkeeper Ebrahim Khalil.

Bahrain, meanwhile, were taking a more cautious approach and rarely progressed into the final third, although goalkeeper Om Jin-song had to be alert to pluck the ball from the head of Saad Saleh on the half hour.

Saleh continued to prove the main dangerman for Bahrain and he hit a low effort into the hands of Om four minutes before the break.

Jang Kuk-chol failed to divert a cross into the back of the net with the goal at his mercy four minutes into the second half but the Koreans were ahead in the 55th minute when Ri Hyong-jin fired home from distance, giving Khalil no chance.

It was almost 2-0 three minutes later when a deep cross from the left found substitute Kim Ju-song unmarked but his volley was kneed away for a corner by Khalil.

Khalil was again in fine form for Bahrain as Ri Hyon-song picked out Kim Ju-song inside the area and the forward wrong-footed his marker but his seemingly goal-bound shot was cleared by the outstretched leg of the keeper.

Bahrain skipper Sayed Dhiya had his head in his hands in the 65th minute when he missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise, failing to connect with the ball when found unmarked inside the area by Ali Muneer.

It proved a costly miss as DPR Korea wrapped up the victory with a second 10 minutes later when Pak Song-chol controlled a lofted ball inside the area before slotting home.

AFC website

05 October 2010

AFC U-19 - North Korea beat Iraq

Linzi: DPR Korea gave their hopes of reaching the last eight of the AFC U-19 Championship a boost following a 3-0 victory over Iraq at Linzi Stadium on Tuesday.

Jang Kuk-chol and Jang Song-hyok scored in the first half before a late Pak Song-chol strike secured the comfortable victory for Yun Jong-su’s side whilst condemning Iraq to a second successive defeat and all but ending their own hopes of progressing to the quarter-finals.

DPR Korea have three points in Group B and play Bahrain in their final group game on Thursday while Iraq are bottom of the standings without a point from two games.

Defensive frailties cost Iraq in their opening game against Bahrain on Sunday and it almost cost them again five minutes into this match as a ball over the top of the defence allowed Pak Song-chol to go clear on goal but the pacey forward lobbed his shot onto the roof of the net with just the goalkeeper to beat.

The Koreans continued to look lively and skipper Ri Hyok-chol drove a low shot through a crowded area into the side-netting after 10 minutes.

It seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead and four minutes later they did just that when Jong Il-kwan received the ball on the left and delivered a low cross to the feet of Jang Kuk-chol, who stabbed home from the middle of the area.

Despite the early setback Iraq were getting forward well but letting themselves down in the final third with Amjed Kalaf expressing his frustration on a number of occasions as his crosses into the area failed to find the green shirts of his teammates.

And instead it got worse for Iraq on the stroke of half time when Ri Hyok-chol was sent tumbling inside the area and Jang Song-hyok confidently stepped up to send the spot kick into the back of the net with goalkeeper Mohammed Hamed diving the wrong way.

Ri Hyok-chol had a shot cleared off the line by an Iraq defender two minutes into the second half but after that chance Iraq began to get into the game more and had a good opportunity on the hour when a curling free-kick from substitute Ali Zwaeed forced keeper Om Jin-song to punch clear.

DPR Korea were still looking dangerous on the break and only a fine save from Hameed in the 70th minute prevented the East Asians from adding a third after Jong Il-kwan had embarked on a mazy run through the Iraq defence before hitting a low shot that the goalkeeper did well to push behind for a corner.

But with Iraq pushing forward in search of goals in the closing stages, DPR Korea added a third in stoppage time when Pak Song-chol was sent through on goal and the forward rifled a shot into the back of the net.

afc.com

22 July 2010

U-19 friendlies

Football matches between the under-19 national teams of the DPRK and China were held at Yanggakdo Football Stadium on July 15 and 18.

The DPRK team defeated the guest team 2:1 and 6:2.

Both of the teams will participate in the 2010 AFC under-19 Soccer Championship to be held in China in October.

The DPRK, together with Iraq, Uzbekistan and Bahrain, belongs to group B. (KCNA)

NK News.org