North Korea deservedly raised the AFC Women's Championship trophy in Taipei yesterday after edging out Japan 2-0 in an entertaining display of soccer.
Both North Korea and Japan went into yesterday's final of the AFC Women's Soccer Championship with memories of AFC Championship upsets -- all of which happened at the hands of China.
PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
North Korea wanted the title of "Asia's best" after defeats at the hands of the "Steel Roses" in the 1993 and 1997 finals.
PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
Japan was beaten by the mighty dragon in the 1986,1991 and 1995 finals.
This time it was the "Steel Roses" who wilted and North Korea went into yesterday's final as the firm favorite, after having beaten both Japan in the group stage and China in the semifinal.
The game began with three daft defensive blunders by Japan in the opening four minutes.
Whilst the Koreans failed to find the back of the net, it was enough to unsettle the Japanese team.
Holes quickly began to appear in Japan's defense and the midfield was at odds with itself over how to deal with the Korean assault.
Within the opening 15 minutes the North Koreans had seen two shots cleared off the Japanese goal line, one shot sailed over the crossbar and a free-kick flew across the penalty area and passed within a meter of Japan's goal.
As the first half progressed, the Japanese team managed to pull itself together enough to mount several attacks. The most telling of which was brought to a premature end by a dubious refereeing decision that saw the North Koreans awarded a free kick just outside their own penalty area.
Despite Japan's odd sorties on goal, North Korea dominated the match and when the referee blew for halftime it was to Japan's credit and North Korea's dismay that the match remained scoreless.
Japan began the second half in a more assertive manner, which nearly paid off with an early goal after a frantic goalmouth scramble.
North Korea soon hit back, however and the deadlock was finally broken by Ri Kum-suk in the 66th minute.
Finding a little time and space in Japan's penalty area, the Korean right winger found the ball at her feet and made no mistake, hammering in a shot from close range.
Adding an additional forward, Japan still looked dangerous and capable of stealing an equalizer.
But a rash of substitutions by North Korea gave the team a second wind and as the clock ticked away it regained control of the match.
Yang Kyong-hui made it two and put the nail in Japan's coffin in the 73rd minute, when her shot from the edge of the penalty flew over the heads of Japan's defense and found the back of the net.
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