Chonburi: Korea Republic came back from a goal down to secure an AFC Women’s U-16 Championship 2017 final meeting with DPR Korea, beating Japan 4-2 on penalties after a nail-biting semi-final finished 1-1 in 90 minutes.
The result, which also confirms their place at next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, came after substitute Tomoko Tanaka had given Japan the lead with her first touch, only for a Cho Mi-jin penalty to bring the sides level with 25 minutes remaining.
Korea Republic then prevailed 4-2 in a tense penalty shootout, eliminating Japan – with their World Cup fate to be decided in a winners-take-all playoff against China PR for third place
Japan began in their usual high possession style, but it was a more direct ball that caught Korea Republic’s defence napping in the 11th minute, when Momo Nakao’s close range effort drew a telling save from Kang Ji-yeon.
Japan almost took the lead after Osawa’s sumptuous back-heel released Yamamoto, but her angled drive skidded narrowly wide in the 25th minute, and five minutes later a thumping free-kick from Korean defender Lee Su-in brought out the best in goalkeeper Shiori Fukuda.
While Korea Republic remained competitive, Japan looked better as the half went on, and got into promising attacking positions on a number of occasions, but with their final pass continously letting them down.
The teams were locked 0-0 at half-time, when Kusunose decided to introduce Tanaka, with devastating effect – as she stunned the Koreans by scoring with her first touch; her low effort from 15 yards proving too much for Kang to keep out.
With Hur Jung-jae’s side temporarily shell-shocked, Tanaka looked destined to double her tally after she used her pace to power away from the defence, but pulled her shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
With the momentum well and truly running against them, Korea Republic somehow found a way back into the match, earning a penalty when Jang You-been flicked the ball over the goalkeeper only to be brought down as she closed in on goal.
Korea Republic’s ever-reliable captain Cho Mi-jin stepped up, and despite Fukuda getting a hand to it, the ball crept in and the sides were level with 25 minutes to play.
Chihiro Tomioka had a free-kick on target deep into injury time, but it was comfortably saved, and the teams went straight to the first ever shootout to be held in the A-B-B-A format in an AFC competition.
Both sides were successful with their first attempts, before Tanaka – the hero just 45 minutes earlier – had her tame effort saved by Kang, only for Korea Republic’s Lee Eun-young to pull her effort wide immediately following.
Japanese substitute Ran Iwai blasted her kick over the bar, giving Cho Mi-jin the chance to put her side in the final, which she duly took, securing a famous Korean win.
Hur Jung-jae (Head coach, Korea Republic)
“It was our primary objective to qualify for the World Cup. We haven’t done so for the past eight years, so its nice to be back. We won this tournament in 2009, and since then we’ve failed to qualify for the World Cup. When we won in 2009, we played against DPR Korea and in the final too, so we have good memories and wish to repeat them."
Naoki Kusunose (Head coach, Japan)
“We were close to a second and third goal but we couldn’t get them. We always had the possibility that they would score so we needed to get another one or two. We have to think 'why are we here?' and it’s to qualify (for the World Cup). That’s the biggest. They players are shocked but they have to be ready and focused for the next game.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com