Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: DPR Korea came from a goal down to defeat neighbours Korea Republic 2-1 in the opening match of the 2013 EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) Women’s Championship on Sunday.
Korea Republic took the lead in Sunday’s Korean derby when Kim Soo-yun opened the scoring with 26 minutes at the Seoul World Cup Stadium played only for Ha Un-byol (pictured) to turn the tide of the match in DPR Korea’s favour with two goals in the space of a minute.
Ha fired in the equaliser following a goalmouth melee in the 36th minute before heading home Kim Su-gyong’s cross for what transpired to be the winner just sixty seconds later.
“It was a difficult to start for our players to this tournament,” DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min told reporters.
“Under humid conditions our players were physically exhausted but they reached deep and displayed mental fortitude.”
Two-time EAFF Women’s Championship runners-up DPR Korea are next in action on Thursday when they take on defending champions Japan while Korea Republic, who defeated the North Koreans to win the inaugural tournament in 2005, look to get their campaign back on track when the hosts take on China on Wednesday.
Photo: AFP