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...win thrilling U-17 WWC final in penalty shootout
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Sep 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM ECT
South Korea are the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010 champions!
In a hard-fought contest befitting a World Cup final, the South Koreans outshot Japan 5-4 by kicks from the penalty spot to lift the coveted trophy, after regulation and extra time failed to separate the teams as they played to a 3-3 draw.
Naoko Wada missed her spot kick for Japan and Lee Jeungeun hit over for South Korea and in sudden death penalty kicks, Jang Selgi netted the winner to spark wild celebrations, after Japan's Tomoko Muramatsu hit the crossbar. Jang ensured the trophy will return to the Korean peninsula.
Earlier yesterday, Spain prevented the Asian one-two-three, edging deposed champions North Korea 1-0 on a Raquel Pinel goal to secure third place.
The final match certainly provided entertainment and goals for the 12,983-strong pro-Japan crowd and swung this way and that like a pendulum, before the shootout, the first of the competition, capped off quite an exciting tournament.
For sheer determination, skill and mental toughness, both teams may have felt deserving of the trophy. But there can only be one winner and Jang made the difference between the teams.
For most of the first half, South Korea played second fiddle to Japan and were perhaps fortunate to be on level terms at the break. But they held their nerve whenever it counted and stayed it in to the very end.
All the first half goals came from long-range shots that took advantage of poor goalkeeper positioning. But the Koreans weathered the Japanese storm before the interval and bravely hit back with almost the last kick of the half.
The Japanese line-up showed clearly attacking intent, with two defenders, five midfielders and three forwards named in their starting XI. And although Japan produced the first few attacks of the match, South Korea went ahead, Lee Jungeun rifling home the opener from 30 metres, a left-footer that left Japan captain and goalkeeper Eri Hirao bemused.
Only 11 minutes later Japan were ahead. Hikaru Naomoto first thumped home the equaliser in the 11th minute, firing in a right footer after South Korea's clearance landed outside of the penalty area.
The go-ahead goal came from the right boot of Yoko Tanaka in the 17th, as she spanked the ball into the net, again from 30 metres, as her low shot bounced once and beat the dive of South Korean goalkeeper Kim Minah at the near post. Both times the crowd roared in approval.
From there it was a barrage of shots from Japan at Minah, the main culprit being right winger Kato. Their efforts were either just inches over, or easy enough to be held by the Korean custodian.
But that fighting quality that helped keep South Korea in the tournament again reared its head and they scored deep in first half stoppage time, another brilliant long-range free kick from captain Kim Areum on the right that dipped at the last minute and left Japan wondering what they had done wrong to go to the break level at 2-2.
South Korea were first out of the blocks in the second half and they produced some nervous moments for the Japanese, whose vocal supporters urged them on with chanting and drumming.
That seemed to work as Japan re-assumed the lead in the 56th, a beautiful piece of work Kumi Yokoyama started on the left wing.
Yokoyama, who has been exciting crowds all tournament long with her impressive individual skill, outfoxed two defenders on the left and cut back for Kato in the penalty area. Minah got a hand to the ball, but it still found its intended target and Kato could not miss from point-blank range.
Minah did well to deny Yokoyama at the near post in the 62nd, after Kyoyama headed over and Haruka Hamada also chipped over from the right of the six-metre area.
But South Korea were not done and in the 79th, just a few minutes after Areum threatened from distance, Lee So Dam hit another fierce long-range drive that beat Hirao for sheer power.
And although they rode their luck to the end of full time, and through a tough period of extra time, the South Koreans' never-say-die attitude ensured they earned the right to be called world champions.
Yesterday's scores:
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
Spain 1 (Raquel Pinel 56th) North Korea 0
FINAL
Japan 3 (Hikaro Naomoto 11th, Yoko Tanaka 17th, Chika Kato 56th) vs South Korea 3 (Lee Jungeun 6th, Kim Areum 45th+, Lee So Dam 79th)
South Korea won 5-4 on penalty kicks
By Kern De Freitas
Story Created: Sep 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM ECT
Story Updated: Sep 25, 2010 at 11:49 PM ECT
South Korea are the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010 champions!
In a hard-fought contest befitting a World Cup final, the South Koreans outshot Japan 5-4 by kicks from the penalty spot to lift the coveted trophy, after regulation and extra time failed to separate the teams as they played to a 3-3 draw.
Naoko Wada missed her spot kick for Japan and Lee Jeungeun hit over for South Korea and in sudden death penalty kicks, Jang Selgi netted the winner to spark wild celebrations, after Japan's Tomoko Muramatsu hit the crossbar. Jang ensured the trophy will return to the Korean peninsula.
Earlier yesterday, Spain prevented the Asian one-two-three, edging deposed champions North Korea 1-0 on a Raquel Pinel goal to secure third place.
The final match certainly provided entertainment and goals for the 12,983-strong pro-Japan crowd and swung this way and that like a pendulum, before the shootout, the first of the competition, capped off quite an exciting tournament.
For sheer determination, skill and mental toughness, both teams may have felt deserving of the trophy. But there can only be one winner and Jang made the difference between the teams.
For most of the first half, South Korea played second fiddle to Japan and were perhaps fortunate to be on level terms at the break. But they held their nerve whenever it counted and stayed it in to the very end.
All the first half goals came from long-range shots that took advantage of poor goalkeeper positioning. But the Koreans weathered the Japanese storm before the interval and bravely hit back with almost the last kick of the half.
The Japanese line-up showed clearly attacking intent, with two defenders, five midfielders and three forwards named in their starting XI. And although Japan produced the first few attacks of the match, South Korea went ahead, Lee Jungeun rifling home the opener from 30 metres, a left-footer that left Japan captain and goalkeeper Eri Hirao bemused.
Only 11 minutes later Japan were ahead. Hikaru Naomoto first thumped home the equaliser in the 11th minute, firing in a right footer after South Korea's clearance landed outside of the penalty area.
The go-ahead goal came from the right boot of Yoko Tanaka in the 17th, as she spanked the ball into the net, again from 30 metres, as her low shot bounced once and beat the dive of South Korean goalkeeper Kim Minah at the near post. Both times the crowd roared in approval.
From there it was a barrage of shots from Japan at Minah, the main culprit being right winger Kato. Their efforts were either just inches over, or easy enough to be held by the Korean custodian.
But that fighting quality that helped keep South Korea in the tournament again reared its head and they scored deep in first half stoppage time, another brilliant long-range free kick from captain Kim Areum on the right that dipped at the last minute and left Japan wondering what they had done wrong to go to the break level at 2-2.
South Korea were first out of the blocks in the second half and they produced some nervous moments for the Japanese, whose vocal supporters urged them on with chanting and drumming.
That seemed to work as Japan re-assumed the lead in the 56th, a beautiful piece of work Kumi Yokoyama started on the left wing.
Yokoyama, who has been exciting crowds all tournament long with her impressive individual skill, outfoxed two defenders on the left and cut back for Kato in the penalty area. Minah got a hand to the ball, but it still found its intended target and Kato could not miss from point-blank range.
Minah did well to deny Yokoyama at the near post in the 62nd, after Kyoyama headed over and Haruka Hamada also chipped over from the right of the six-metre area.
But South Korea were not done and in the 79th, just a few minutes after Areum threatened from distance, Lee So Dam hit another fierce long-range drive that beat Hirao for sheer power.
And although they rode their luck to the end of full time, and through a tough period of extra time, the South Koreans' never-say-die attitude ensured they earned the right to be called world champions.
Yesterday's scores:
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
Spain 1 (Raquel Pinel 56th) North Korea 0
FINAL
Japan 3 (Hikaro Naomoto 11th, Yoko Tanaka 17th, Chika Kato 56th) vs South Korea 3 (Lee Jungeun 6th, Kim Areum 45th+, Lee So Dam 79th)
South Korea won 5-4 on penalty kicks