North Korea moved within one match of retaining their title after defeating their southern neighbour’s 3-0 in their AFC U20 Women\u2019s Asian Cup Thailand semi-final at the Pathum Thani Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pak Il Sim\u2019s thunderbolt and Kang Ryu Mi\u2019s composed finish in the first half, with Choe Yon A adding the third, sent North Korea on their way to a ninth final appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chae-been had to be alert five minutes later to deny Jon Il-Chong\u2019s downward header following Choe Rim Jong\u2019s delivery, before South Korea sparked a move of their own in the 20th minute but were left disappointed by Jin Hye-rin\u2019s tame effort from above the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Korea\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Korea\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
North Korea moved within one match of retaining their title after defeating their southern neighbour’s 3-0 in their<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[63],"class_list":["post-11705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t