North Korea remained flawless as they handed Australia a 3-0 defeat in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand quarter-finals at the Pathum Thani Stadium.
The defending champions will now face either Korea or Thailand in the last four stage, while staying on track to also retain their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title in Poland later this year.
North Korea struck after three minutes of play when Choe Rim Jong’s cross from the right sailed through the Australian defence to find Pak Ok I just outside the six-yard box. The number six showed excellent control, composed herself, and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Ilona Melegh into the left corner.
Australia gradually settled over the next 10 minutes and denied the East Asians further breakthroughs, with Melegh producing multiple impressive saves to keep out efforts from Kang Ryu Mi and Ro Un Hyang.
The 2024 semi-finalists looked to exploit spaces on the counter and made a couple of forays into the opposing half but struggled to create clear openings, with their best opportunity coming in the 30th minute when Tiana Fuller fed a through ball to Talia Younis, letting her race forward but was outpaced by Pak Il Sim, who cleared into the hands of DPR Korea goalkeeper Park Ju Gyong.
A free-kick from the right flank nearly resulted in a second for DPR Korea after Melegh fumbled Un Hyang’s delivery, but the Australian custodian reacted quickly to gather the loose ball and avert danger.
North Korea stepped up the pressure in the closing stages of the half, with both Pak Ok I and Un Hyang having their attempts denied by Australia captain Alexia Apostolakis, while seconds before the half-time whistle, Melegh did well to keep out Ho Kyong’s close-range effort from the right.
Alexander Epakis’s side squandered a golden opportunity in the 54th minute when Fuller intercepted Pak Il Sim’s pass to Park Ju Gyong but saw her effort blocked immediately. Younis then reacted quickest to the deflected loose ball, but sent her shot wide to the left.
North Korea responded shortly after when Ri Kuk Hyang looked to capitalise on a free-kick from the left byline, delivering a right-footed effort from just outside the box, but saw her attempt drift wide.
The young Matildas survived another scare in the 67th minute when Pak Ok I beat Tegan Bertolissio to break into the box, but her effort from a tight angle on the left sailed just over the crossbar.
Australia was dealt a blow when the relentless pressing from Han Chol Hok’s side paid off in the 74th minute as Rubi Sullivan inadvertently turned the ball into her own net while attempting to clear Un Hyang’s strike from the right.
In the final minute of regulation time, North Korea scored for the third time when Un Hyang made the most of Melegh straying off her line, and calmly slotted the ball into the centre of the net.
