Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pyongyang: DPR Korea’s Hwaepul SC earned their maiden AFC Cup victory after a comprehensive 6-1 beating of fellow continental debutants Hang Yuen FC of Chinese Taipei on Tuesday.
Having endured two consecutive defeats in Group I to compatriots 4.25 SC and Benfica Macau, Mun Ho-il’s side bounced back in style in front of 4,000 home fans at Kim Il Sung Stadium in the DPR Korea capital.
Jon Chung-il opened the scoring for the hosts on 19 minutes, before Ri Yong-gwon added a second nine minutes before the interval.
An own-goal from Hang Yuen defender Yen Ting-yuen extended Hwaepul’s lead to 3-0 five minutes after the restart, before Liu Chia-ming reduced the deficit on the 55th minute.
Any hope the visitors may have had of an unlikely comeback, though, was quickly quashed by the home side’s skipper Jong Chol-hyok who netted a fourth for Hwaepul just three minutes later.
Ri Song made it 5-1 on 72 minutes before Ri Jong-min wrapped up the scoring two minutes from the end.
The victory sees Hwaepul retain third spot in the group, with a return meeting with Hang Yuen to come next in New Taipei on April 25. The Chinese Taipei club remain rooted at the bottom of Group I, yet to earn a point so far in their first AFC Cup campaign.