Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Nanjing: A brace from Jang Chang and a Namgung Ye-ji penalty helped holders Korea Republic to a 3-0 victory over Thailand in Group B of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship on Friday as they booked their place in next week’s semi-finals with a game to spare.
After a stubborn first-half performance by Thailand at the Jiangsu Training Base Stadium, it was Jong Song-chon’s side who took the lead early in the second period with an accurate finish from Jang (pictured), before the same player claimed her second with 20 minutes to go.
And the Koreans then put the game beyond any doubt with 15 minutes remaining when forward Namgung made it three from the penalty spot with her third of the tournament as the holders made it two wins from two in the group stage and in doing so knocked out their opponents from the competition.
“We had one rest day so changed some of our players, and some of the new players were nervous,” said Jong, who will now turn his attention to Saturday’s encounter with DPR Korea.
“At half-time we changed our left and right side, and played much better in the second half. Thailand are developing a lot, but we expected them to tire as the game went on.”
Korea Republic had the majority of the possession in the opening stages, but had to wait until the 20-minute mark for their first sight on goal, which forward Kwon Do-hee turned over after getting on the end of a Jang cross from the left.
Then two minutes before the interval the holders had the best chance of the game when midfielder Park Yee-un slipped in Namgung, but outrushing Thailand keeper Nattaruja Muthtanawech saved well at her feet before Methawi Upapong cleared to safety.
But the two-time winners did go in front on 52 minutes after Namgung’s scooped pass over the Thailand defence bounced up just in front of Jang, and she sent an emphatic volley into the bottom left hand corner.
Korea then doubled their advantage on 71 minutes when Wie’s left-foot effort from just inside the box rebounded of the crossbar and Jang was on hand to head home from just a few yards out for her second of the game.
And with quarter of an hour remaining substitute Orawan Keereesuwannakul brought down Namgung inside the penalty area, and the forward dusted herself off to dispatch the spot-kick into the bottom right corner to make it 3-0.
With 10 minutes to go the holders almost made it four when Wie’s cross from the left was controlled then powered goalwards by substitute Son Hwa-yean, but her effort from eight yards was expertly tipped onto the bar by Nattaruja and the game finished 3-0.
“We have performed well in both our matches, but Korea played very well in the second half,” said Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian.
“Tactically we are satisfied, but physically we are not as strong as them.”