North Korea moved within one match of retaining their title after defeating their southern neighbour’s 3-0 in their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand semi-final at the Pathum Thani Stadium.
Pak Il Sim’s thunderbolt and Kang Ryu Mi’s composed finish in the first half, with Choe Yon A adding the third, sent North Korea on their way to a ninth final appearance.
A revamped South Korean side, with only Kim Chae-been, Yoon Ah-yeong and Cheon Si-woo retained from the team that suffered a 5-0 defeat to North Korea in the group stage, were able to absorb the early pressure this time around.
The first noteworthy action came in the 14th minute when Choe Rim Jong tried to surprise South Korean custodian Kim Chae-been with an ambitious lob from an acute angle but her effort from 35-yards sailed over the bar.
Chae-been had to be alert five minutes later to deny Jon Il-Chong’s downward header following Choe Rim Jong’s delivery, before South Korea sparked a move of their own in the 20th minute but were left disappointed by Jin Hye-rin’s tame effort from above the area.
The breakthrough for North Korea finally arrived four minutes later when Il Sim caught Chae-been out of position with a stinging strike from outside the box, which zipped over the South Korean keeper before settling into the top right corner.
South Korea were left further stunned in the 34th minute after a neat exchange between Pak Ok I and So Ryu Gyong put Ryu Mi through on goal, with the Rimyongsu SC forward slipping the ball past a rooted Chae-been.
Pak Il Sim and Ri Kuk Hyang then let South Korea off in first-half stoppage time after both saw their efforts from distance fail to hit the target as North Korea took a comfortable lead going into the break.
South Korea’s introduction of Park Ju-Ha and Seo Min-Jeong in the second half failed to change the narrative as North Korea remained relentless in attack with Ro Un Hyang rattling the right post just after the hour mark.
North Korea threatened to add a third in the 72nd minute with Choe Yon A testing Chae-been from distance before the South Korean custodian reacted quickly to deny Ri Su Jong from close range on the follow-up.
South Korea’s resistance was, however, finally broken in the 84th minute with Ri Su Jong creating the space inside a packed box for Choe Yon A to finish as North Korea stayed on course for a third title.
