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N. Korea defeats S. Korea to reach women’s football final

September 29, 2014

North Korea has now beaten South Korea for the 13th time in 15 all-time meetings so far, including in all five matches at Asian Games. (Yonhap)

INCHEON (Yonhap) — North Korea edged South Korea 2-1 to reach the gold medal match in women’s football at the Asian Games on Monday.

Substitute Ho Un-byol scored the winner moments from the whistle to put North Korea in its second straight Asiad final.

North Korea will face Japan in a rematch of the 2010 Asiad final, where Japan prevailed 1-0 at the time.

North Korea has now beaten South Korea for the 13th time in 15 all-time meetings so far, including in all five matches at Asian Games. South Korea was trying to win its first Asiad gold in women’s football.

South Korea opened the scoring 12 minutes into the match, as Jung Seol-bin’s floating free kick bounced in off the hands of the diving goalkeeper, Hong Myong-hui.

North Korean forward Wi Jong-sim hit the right goal post in the 20th minute after speeding past defender Lim Seon-joo. Jon Myong-hwa hit the left post two minutes later, as North Korea kept the pressure on the befuddled South Korean defense.

The North’s efforts finally led to the equalizer in the 36th minute. Wi drove down the right flank and sent a rolling cross toward the middle for Ri Ye-gyong. The South Koreans failed to clear the ball out of harm’s way as Ri got just enough of the pass to put it past goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.

The two sides had chances around the hour mark, with Kim Yun-mi for North Korea and Jeon Ga-eul for the South both missing the target.

South Korea controlled the pace most of the second half and nearly won the match in regulation, as Ji So-yun’s right-foot strike rang off the crossbar in the 88th. Jeon Ga-eul tried to put in the rebound but rolled it wide of the left post.

Just as the match seemed destined for overtime, Ho capitalized on a fatal defensive miscue by Lim Seon-joo and put the ball into the gaping South Korean net.