North Korea showcased their determination to defend their title with a commanding 10-0 win against Chinese Taipei in their opening AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China Group C match.
In Group B Australia kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win against India at the Suzhou Taihu Football Sports Centre.
North Korea wasted little time in asserting their dominance, opening the scoring in the third minute when Ri Ui Gyong’s cutback allowed Kim Ju Gyong to apply the finish.
Kim Won Sim doubled North Korea’s advantage in the seventh minute when she pounced on a deflected Ri Ye Sim attempt to blast the ball into the bottom corner.
It became 3-0 a minute later when Won Sim’s cross from the right was met with a first-time finish from Yu Jong Hyang as Chinese Taipei were left reeling.
Yu grabbed another in the 20th minute, receiving Ui Gyong’s pass on the edge of the box, turning and smashing the ball past Chinese Taipei custodian Lin Pin-Yu.
Cheng Ya-Hsun looked to find some balance in her Chinese Taipei side after the interval by shoring up the midfield with Hsiao Yu-Chien replacing forward Pan Ya-ni but the move did not pan out the way the head coach wanted.
North Korea struck again two minutes into the second half after Yu raced clear on the left and drove into the box before squaring for Ye Rim to steer her effort home.
Substitute Won Sol Gyong was next to get on the scoresheet, rifling in a rebound after Yu’s initial strike had bounced off the crossbar in the 62nd minute.
North Korea kept the pressure up for the remainder of the match with goals through Yu (68th, 70th, 90th+4) and Kim Sol Song (82nd) capping the comprehensive win.
Meanwhile, Australia created early chances with Sakura Leong dispossessing Redima Devi Chingkhamayum in the sixth minute before drilling a low shot straight at India goalkeeper Munni Bhambhu.
Willa Pearson almost put Australia ahead in the 15th minute but the Sydney FC defender flashed her shot just wide of the right post off Tehya Aspland’s corner.
The pressure on the Indian defence paid off 10 minutes later after Theodora Mouithys picked up Claire Corbett’s through ball and finished with a curling strike past Munni.
Australia threatened to double their lead in the closing stages of the first half, with Pearson and Kaya Jugovic missing the target from inside the box, while Mouithys saw her low effort parried by Munni before Leong fired the rebound over the bar.
India almost had a promising start to the second half with Joya Joya’s through pass finding Pritika Barman clear on the right, only for the Indian midfielder to send her long-range effort wide.
The South Asian side’s attempts to get back on level terms were dealt a blow in the 59th minute after Abhista Basnett – in an attempt to clear Claire Corbett’s cross – inadvertently put the ball into her own net.
India tried to force their way back but tame efforts from Julan Nongmaithem and Redima Chingkhamayum summed up a frustrating evening for them as Australia comfortably saw out the win.
