North Korea and Japan set up a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco semi-final showdown after advancing from their respective last eight ties in contrasting fashion on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea cruised to a 3-0 win against the United States while Japan edged Ghana 1-0, with the two Asian heavyweights to meet on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China, meanwhile, exited the tournament after a 2-1 defeat to Brazil, who will meet Nigeria next.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Korea 3-0 USA<\/strong> Goalkeeper Avellina Saunders kept the United States in it to begin with, repelling a point-blank Yu Jong Hyang header with a superb save, before foiling her again from the penalty spot soon after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was, though, powerless to stop a low Ri Ui Gyong drive in the 30th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeking a record-extending fifth title, DPR Korea doubled their lead in first half added time when Ri Ye Rim tiptoed her way inside the United States box and lashed home a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ui Gyong then doubled her tally just before the hour-mark, turning home a terrific Kim Won Sim cross with a ferocious drive to net her fifth of this tournament and eighth overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ghana 0-1 Japan<\/strong> After a tightly contested opening half, Japan broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, when Nanami Kurita found the net after a ricocheted attempt by Yuka Kishida fell into her path close to goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Japan, who won the showpiece in 2014 and reached the final two years later, continued to attack and held on for victory, with Ghana struggling to impose themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n China 1-2 Brazil\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n China started strongly and looked set to open the scoring when a deep free-kick caused chaos in the Brazil box, but with goalkeeper Nathy stranded, Yasmin Queiroz made heroic blocks to deny Cai Xinlin and He Hanruo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brazil wouldn’t get so lucky next time, though, as a moment of individual brilliance shattered the deadlock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wu Yichen stole in behind Yasmin, before brushing past Sarah Coelho and releasing a powerful drive into the top-right corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brazil flew out for the second half and drew level after just 42 seconds when Greise Kelly controlled in a crowded box and laid it off for Helena, who drilled in the equaliser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After hitting the woodwork, Greise had a hand in the winner when her back-post cross fell to Helena, who once again made no mistake in smashing home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" North Korea and Japan set up a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco semi-final showdown after advancing from<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[430],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\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\n\t\t\n\t\t
Two-time reigning champions North Korea gave a timely reminder of their title ambitions to book their semi-final ticket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After being knocked out of the previous four tournaments at the last-eight stage, Japan made their long-awaited return to the semi-finals with a close victory over Ghana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n