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

AFC U16 - Saudi Arabia 1-2 DPR Korea

Tehran: A spectacular Ri Kwang-song goal eight minutes from time saw DPR Korea defeat Saudi Arabia 2-1 at the PAS Stadium on Tuesday and keep alive their hopes of retaining the AFC U-16 Championship crown.

DPR Korea took the lead through Ri Ryong's 48th minute strike only for Abdulkarim Al Qahtani to equalise for the Saudis from the penalty spot five minutes later. But with the clock ticking down and the draw looking inevitable Ri Kwang-song struck from distance to give the defending champions victory.

Both sides lost their opening Group D matches with DPR Korea going down 3-0 to Korea Republic, who booked their place in the last eight with a 3-1 defeat of Japan in the earlier match at the PAS Stadium, and Saudi Arabia losing 2-0 to the Japanese, so three points were a must for either of them to have any chance of a place in the quarter-finals.

The Saudis had the first crack on goal but Abdullah Al Megbas' sixth-minute shot was comfortably gathered by Korean keeper Kim Yu-il, who was starting in place of Ha Jin-myong, before Kim's counterpart Waleed Abu Milah had to react sharply to prevent Kim Song-min's cross reaching An Song-il after some good build up play on the left flank seven minutes later.

The East Asians dominated the opening exchanges with the Saudis mostly trying to capitalise on the pace of Abdulaziz Hazazi, who started in place of Mohammed Al Shahrani, and Al Megbas with long balls played over the top of the DPRK defence.

They almost had better luck from the set-piece in the 27th minute when a free-kick from the right was met by the leaping Sumayhan Al Nabit only for the Saudi midfielder's bullet header to be brilliantly saved by Kim Yu-il.

Keeper Kim again came to the Koreans' rescue in the 35th minute when he got down smartly to save Al Nabit's well-taken volley as the Saudis began to take a grip on the game.

Five minutes from the break, a pinpoint pass from Jon Kum-song released Ri Ryong into a scoring position but the DPR Korea forward missed the target before An Song-il's fierce drive drew a flying save from Abu Milah.

The Saudi keeper was again called into action in first-half stoppage-time, with another superb save to keep out Kim Ju-hyok's free-kick.

Just as they did at the end of the first-half DPR Korea dominated the start of the second and took the lead just three minutes after the restart when Ri Ryong dispatched the ball past Abu Milah after being teed-up inside the box by Kim Song-min's intelligent pass.

But the lead lasted just five minutes, with Abdulkarim Al Qahtani equalising from the penalty spot after Hassan Ghazwani had been bundled over in the box while charging towards goal.

As the second-half wore on, the draw was looking the most likely outcome until a moment of individual brilliance put DPR Korea in the driving seat, with a spectacular long-range effort from skipper Ri Kwang-song eight minutes from time settling the contest.

DPR Korea's hopes of retaining the AFC U-16 Championship title the East Asian nation won by beating hosts Uzbekistan in 2010 now rest on taking all three points against Japan at the PAS Stadium on Thursday and while the Saudis have only pride to play for when they take on Korea Republic in the other Group D match kicking off simultaneously over at the Rah Ahan Stadium.

source : the-afc.com

11-goal Korea DPR crush Gambia

© Getty Images

Korea DPR laid down a gauntlet on the opening day of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup by thrashing Gambia 11-0 in their Group B encounter in Baku.
The North Koreans, winners of this tournament four years ago, were far too strong for their African opponents, who are appearing at a major FIFA competition for the very first time.
Ri Un Sim and Ri Kyong Hyang both bagged trebles as one of the genuine contenders for the title sent a message to section rivals France and USA against admittedly shell-shocked opponents.
From the first whistle the Asian side were dominant and although it took them almost 20 minutes to register, three goals in as many minutes put the result beyond doubt.
Choe Yun Gyong capitalised on a rebound to break the deadlock on 18 minutes, and further goals from Ri Un Sim and Ri Kyong Hyang followed a minute apart as Gambia struggled to regain their composure.
Ri Un Sim completed a hat-trick before half-time, first converting a spot-kick and then a smart finish from the edge of the area, before Kim Phyong Hwa made it half-a-dozen in the opening period for Korea DPR.
Korea DPR took their foot off the gas to a degree in the second half but wasteful passing from Gambia, allied to some clinical counter-attacking play, saw them extend their advantage by another five goals.
Ri Kyong Hyang secured a treble of her own after scoring in the 63rd and 77th minutes, sandwiching an effort by Kim So Hyang. Ri Hyang Sim rounded off the result with two late individual efforts as Korea DPR proved their credentials immediately.
They will now face France on Tuesday while Gambia will attempt to resurrect their campaign against USA on the same day, with both games taking place in Baku.
The quote
"I am obviously very happy with the result and the score, but we have two more games ahead of us and we have to give our best in each of them. The first match was very important to give more experience to the girls and this is a process that will continue in the next couple of games. Gambia is not a weak side at all and some of their players did quite well today, but the first match is always tense", Hwang Yong Bong, Korea DPR coach

FIFA.com