South Korea set up all-Asia final Email my friend Share

Korea Republic booked their place in the final of the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad in Tobago with a 2-1 win over Spain in the first semi-final from Couva. The result sets up a date with Japan, who scored a 2-1 comeback win against Korea DPR, in an all-Asian affair which will also be South Korea’s first appearance in a FIFA final.

<##IMAGE##> A teeming Caribbean rainstorm greeted the players when they took the pitch at the Ato Boldon Stadium, but the game itself began with far less intensity. The Koreans seemed to have learned their lesson since conceding two goals in the first three minutes of their quarter-final with Nigeria, shielding the talented Spaniards from the danger zones and cutting off their service from the flanks. The European champions were restricted to long-range shots in the first quarter-hour, but Ana Maria Catala, Sara Merida and Alexia Putellas were unable to find any joy from distance, hitting over more often than not and hardly troubling goalkeeper Kim Minah.

The Asian net-minder was needed, however, in the 21st minute when Putellas slid in a pretty through ball for Raquel Pina, who stretched and wriggled on the wet pitch but was unable to get it past the advancing Kim Minah. The keeper was however unable to do anything about Spain’s next effort, with captain Amanda Sampedro taking the lead in the 23rd minute. A fine cross from Putellas, looking the most creative player on the pitch, was volleyed home at the back post. Hardly had the celebrations ended than the rangy Koreans, no strangers to being behind, marched right up the other side and drew level, the outstanding Yeo Min Ji striking from close range to move to the top of the scorers’ table with eight goals in five games.

Six minutes from the interval, the Koreans put themselves in front. Joo Soojin took full advantage of an unfortunate slip by Spanish centre-back Ivan Andres, raced into the box, rounded Dolores Gallardo and hit home into an unguarded net. Sara Merida had two chances to draw Spain level in the remaining minutes of the first half, but Kim Minah was equal to the task on both occasions.

Spain did all they could to try to battle back into the contest, but the ladies in white were in full control, keeping them from penetrating. They nearly made it three on the hour mark when Yeo Min Ji was put clean through on goal by Joo Soojin, but the striker was denied dramatically by Spanish goalkeeper Dolores Gallardo. Just minutes later, Nagore Calderon looked like drawing level, only for her shot from 20 yards to be palmed over by the diving Kim Minah. The action was heating up, and Lee Geum Min was alone on goal in the 67th minute and looked like scoring, but she put her shot wide instead.

Calderon had another chance to draw level, but she somehow conspired to lift her free header from five yards out over the bar. That miss combined with a late miscue from substitute Paloma Lazaro to see Spain’s hopes of a place in the ultimate match disintegrate.


Japanese style wins the day Email my friend Share

Japan dragged themselves back from a goal down to beat defending champions Korea DPR in the second semi-final from the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Tuesday. Winning out 2-1 and putting on a show of assorted flicks and tricks for the fans in attendance, the stylish East Asians – who scored both of their goals in the space of two second half minutes – will now meet Korea Republic in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

<##IMAGE##>The first half started cautiously as the Japanese set out to match Korea DPR’s well-documented defensive approach. Rather than go all-out in attack – a style that has seen the Nadeshiko score more goals that any other team at these finals – coach Hiroshi Yoshida started ace forward Kumi Yokoyama on the bench, preferring only two in attack. A cracker from the edge of the box by Mai Kyokawa was the first real chance of the game and that effort came bounding back off Choe Kyong Im’s crossbar after 20 minutes.

The Koreans had their first half-chance of the contest a few minutes later when Kim Kum Jong miscued from 12 yards out, the ball bobbling harmlessly wide of Eri Hirao’s goal. Coach Yoshida, perhaps sensing blood in the water, brought on Yokoyama on the half-hour mark in place of midfielder Ayu Nakada. Almost at once, Haruna Kawashima volleyed over from 12 yards out as the Japanese looked more dangerous with three out-and-out attackers on the pitch. Yokoyama then had a go five minutes before the interval, but she failed to test the keeper after cutting inside and slipping past two defenders. Haruka Hamada tried her luck from distance shortly after, but the effort slipped past the post as the half ended in a scoreless stalemate.

The North Koreans came out after the break looking to get forward in attack, with captain O Hui Sun trying a shot from 25 yards that had Hirao back-peddling but flew over the bar in the end. Their coach Ri Song Gun decided to roll the dice for the first time in the competition, bringing on another striker in the form of Kim Yun Mi. The gamble paid off in the 59th minute when the substitute slammed in a low free-kick from 23 yards out. Japan’s captain and keeper fumbled the ball and Kim Kum Jong raced through to finish up.

The Japanese were unfazed by the set-back and began to throw everything into a frenzied hunt for an equaliser. Coming on in waves, they got their leveller in the 69th minute when Hikari Tagaki nodded home Hamada’s cross at the back post. The lively, stylish side then turned the game on its head, going in front just seconds later with a goal of astonishing grace and style. Yokoyama, who coach Yoshida calls the “best player in the team,” got hold of the ball and wriggled past four Korean defenders, raced into the box and fired low and hard past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

And there the score remained to the end, despite a late flurry of attack from the North Koreans. Japan, on the strength of their sophisticated attack, will now move into their first FIFA women’s final. They meet up with Korea Republic, who beat Spain earlier in the day, at Trinidad and Tobago 2010’s grand finale on 25 September at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.