Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pyongyang: Rim Chol-min netted a brace as DPR Korea's 4.25 SC rounded off their 2018 AFC Cup Group I campaign with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Chinese Taipei's Hang Yuen FC at May Day Stadium on Wednesday.
Having already advanced to the Inter-Zonal semi-finals as table-toppers, 4.25 went into the game looking to maintain their 100 percent record against a Hang Yuen side, who were aiming for their first points on what has been their maiden campaign in the Continent.
The hosts' captain An Il-bom was also hoping to score in his sixth successive group stage match, but it was through a Lin Shih Kai own-goal in the 25th minute that 4.25 went ahead.
Hang Yuen struck back a minute later through Haiti international Jean-Marc Alexandre, only for the home side to go back in front almost immediately after with Rim's first goal of the night.
Kim Jong-chol added a third and the unfortunate Lin ensured headlines of the wrong sort when he scored his second own-goal to make the score 4-1 at the interval.
An was substituted on the hour to mean his chance of netting in every game so far was over, but Rim put the gloss on a hugely impressive group stage for the Pyongyang team when he rounded off the scoring in the final 15 minutes.
The victory meant 4.25 finished on a maximum 18 points, six ahead of Benfica Macau, who defeated another DPR Korea side, Hwaepul SC, 3-0 in Macau.
After also reaching the Inter-Zonal semi-finals last year, 4.25 will return to the same stage this time round, with their knockout stage games to kick off in late August.