Korea DPR pip Japan to Asian title - FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
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| FIFA.com |
Ri Hae-yon scored the only goal as Korea DPR edged defending champions Japan 1-0 to the title in Sunday's 2015 AFC U-16 Women's Championship final in Wuhan, China PR. By doing so, Hwang Yong-song’s side recaptured the continental laurels having achieved their maiden success in 2007.
In a re-match of the two sides' final encounter in the previous two editions, the Japanese came close to opening the scoring with forward Hana Takahashi rattling the crossbar five minutes from half-time. However, it was Korea DPR who took the lead a minute later when ace-striker Ri wriggled past her marker before curling a wonderful left-footed shot into the top right corner.
Inspired by the opener, Korea DPR went on to dominate the second half. Defender Choe Un-chung nearly doubled the lead when her free-kick flashed across the crossbar and Ri was also denied by the woodwork in the closing stages as they won by the slightest of margins. In a sense, Hwang's side avenged their previous losses to Japan in the tournament final in 2011 and 2013 by clinching victory this time around.
"I'm very happy that we could win this championship," Hwang said. "We drew with Japan in the group stage so we knew what to expect and told the players they needed to control the game more. At half-time, we told them not to lose their tempo, keep going until the very last minute. The key to our success today was our continued focus."
Road to Jordan
The eight-team tournament served as the qualifier for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Jordan 2016 and with only the top-two finishers advancing to the global showpiece, the competition was as ferocious as expected. After all, this Asian campaign featured as many as three world champions in New Zealand 2008 winners Korea DPR, Trinidad and Tobago 2010 champions Korea Republic and holders Japan who emerged victorious at Costa Rica 2014.
Pitted against each other in the same group that also featured Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei, it came as no surprise that the two sides joined hands in progressing to the last four. Both teams opened brightly with comfortable wins against the Uzbeks and Chinese Taipei before heading to their meeting in the closing group game.
In what was always going to be a tightly contested match, Takahashi cancelled out Sung Hyang-sim's early opener as the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate. The two teams finished with seven points each but it was Japan that won the group due to a superior goal difference.
The all-important semi-finals saw Korea DPR clash with undefeated hosts China PR, winners from the other group, while Japan went up against Thailand, the tournament surprise packages who eliminated a heavily favoured Korea Republic with a solitary-goal triumph. As it turned out, Japan thumped the Thais 8-0 and Korea DPR overcame the Chinese 2-1 to seal their places in the final and subsequently booking the first two spots to next year’s U-17 World Cup where they joined Jordan, who automatically qualified as hosts.
"It is a big pleasure for us to earn our return to the U-17 World Cup next year," continued Hwang, looking forward to their fifth global appearance, "We will do whatever we can to bring happiness to our country, just as we did today."
Emerging stars
The tournament saw a series of young talents unearthed as they set the continental stage alight. With four goals to her name, including a brace against China PR, Ri finished as Korea DPR's joint top-scorer alongside midfielder Kim Pom-ui. Throughout the campaign the striking teenager dazzled the spectators through her mesmerising runs and sharp nose for goal, performances that earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.
Japan's Takarada, too, impressed through her vision and goal-scoring form. The Japan No9 scored three times in as many games, including netting the equaliser against Korea DPR as she helped her side go all the way to the final. Also catching attention across Asia was captain Fuka Nagano, who confidently provided the drive and leadership.
Despite narrowly missing out on a place at Jordan 2016, hosts China PR demonstrated what progress they had made by winning their group. The team, consisting largely of the squad that won the Girls' Youth Olympic Football Tournament at Nanjing 2014 and coached by legendary Gao Hong, drew 3-3 with Korea Republic before crushing Iran and Thailand to progress to the last four. Notably, forward Wang Yanwen finished as the tournament’s top-scorer with six goals, while Jin Kun and Ma Xiaolan, both of whom excelled at Nanjing 2014, scored three goals apiece.
"I think the whole tournament has been a great opportunity for our players to develop," reflected Gao, the former national team goalkeeper who figured in China's runners-up campaign at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup USA™. "The girls have improved game by game. There’s only a very little gap between us and the top teams, but our major task now is to reduce mistakes and improve."