Two-time world champions the US lived up to their status as women’s soccer World Cup favorites on Tuesday, beating North Korea 2-0 in their Group C opener in Dresden, Germany.
Lauren Cheney opened the scoring for the US in the 54th minute and Rachel Buehler doubled the lead after 76 minutes for Pia Sundhage’s team.
The US next play Colombia on Saturday in Sinsheim, while North Korea face Sweden the same day in Augsburg.
Photo: AFP
In front of 21,859 at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, Carli Lloyd of the US had the first chance after 10 minutes with a header off a free-kick, but North Korea goalkeeper Hong Myong-hui was well-placed.
Hong made a better save a minute later from Cheney’s long shot as the US began building up pressure.
North Korea finally had a good chance a minute later, but US goalkeeper Hope Solo was well placed at the right post to turn round Kim Su-gyong’s attempt for a corner.
The Asians had the most dangerous attack in the match so far after 38 minutes when Kim passed to Song Jong-sun, who worked free on the right side and got to the touchline, before passing across the mouth of the goal. It beat Solo, but there was no attacker there to put the ball away.
North Korea coach Kim Kwang-min made one substitution at halftime, bringing Paek Sol-hui on for Yun Hyon-hi — with Paek moving into the back four and leftback Ho Un-byol taking a forward position.
The US came out after the break showing much more ambition, with Cheney being denied by Hong in the 47th minute.
Shannon Boxx then put a shot just past the far post two minutes later and Abby Wambach finally had a chance, but missed woefully from 6m out after 51 minutes.
North Korea finally succumbed to the pressure when Cheney beat Hong to make it 1-0 for the US in the 54th minute. Wambach chipped a ball from the left over the defense to Cheney, who headed home for her 14th goal in her 40th international.
North Korea went close to leveling just two minutes later, but Ri Ye-gyong’s blast struck the crossbar.
The US missed a chance to double their advantage after 65 minutes when Wambach’s header was deflected by Hong onto the crossbar, but they finished off their opponents in the 76th minute when Alex Krieger sent a cross in from the right which struck the crossbar, the ball rebounding to Buehler, who struck the ball just inside the near post for her second international goal.
North Korea coach Kim Kwang-min claimed several players who had played in the loss were still suffering from the effects of being struck by lightning at a pre-tournament training camp.
“Frankly speaking, when we were having training and test matches before we left for this tournament, five of the players were hit by lightning and were in hospital,” he said through an interpreter in the post-game press conference. “We had an accident in Pyongyang before we left for this tournament. Some of the players were left behind. Some were in hospital and came later. Until now, they were not fully treated for the match.”
He said the incident occurred on June 8.
He added that the players most affected were the goalkeeper, four defenders and some midfield players — without naming them.
The coach said doctors had originally decided that they were not in a fit state to play, but that they played anyway.
The news hit FIFA media officials like a lightning bolt as well.
“It was news to us all,” FIFA media officer Julie Brown said at the US press conference when journalists asked for opinion of the North Korean revelation.
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