DPR Korea booked their spot in the AFC U-16 Championship 2020 Finals after cruising to a 4-0 win over Hong Kong, on Saturday.
The win gave DPR Korea maximum points from three matches with the East Asians scoring an impressive 26 goals and conceding only once.
DPR Korea were the better side from the start of the contest as they threatened as early as the third minute, but the Hong Kong defenders were quick to close them down.
Ri Kum-chol, who already had six goals to his name, came close to finding the net in the ninth minute when he surged into the box from the right but fired his low drive straight into the arms of Hong Kong custodian Chan Ka Ho.
Hong Kong survived another scare seconds later when Kang-won pounced on a loose ball off a corner but his first touch was too strong as he sent the ball over the bar.
Hong Kong conceded a penalty a minute before the half-hour mark when Chang Xavier brought down a goal bound Ri Il-song.
Choe Song-jin made no mistake from the spot when he sent Chang the wrong way to break the deadlock.
DPP Korea doubled their advantage in the 36th minute after Choe did well to hold up play inside the box before setting up Ri for a classy finish.
The East Asians kicked up a notch and furthered their advantage in the 39th minute after Yom Chol-gyong’s long ball found an unmarked Mun Jong-chong inside the danger area, who smashed his volley past Chang.
Hong Kong tried to fight back in the second half but DPR Korea were quick in closing them down.
Sohgo Ichikawa came close to scoring in the 54th minute with his brilliant run down the left but his execution lacked bite as Hong Kong lost a rare opportunity to trouble DPR Korea.
At the hour mark, Mun scored with a sublime finish from inside the box when he picked up Kang Ju-hyon’s long pass before squeezing his shot past Chang to seal DPR Korea’s progress into the Finals.
Photos: Football Association of Singapore
The win gave DPR Korea maximum points from three matches with the East Asians scoring an impressive 26 goals and conceding only once.
DPR Korea were the better side from the start of the contest as they threatened as early as the third minute, but the Hong Kong defenders were quick to close them down.
Ri Kum-chol, who already had six goals to his name, came close to finding the net in the ninth minute when he surged into the box from the right but fired his low drive straight into the arms of Hong Kong custodian Chan Ka Ho.
Hong Kong survived another scare seconds later when Kang-won pounced on a loose ball off a corner but his first touch was too strong as he sent the ball over the bar.
Hong Kong conceded a penalty a minute before the half-hour mark when Chang Xavier brought down a goal bound Ri Il-song.
Choe Song-jin made no mistake from the spot when he sent Chang the wrong way to break the deadlock.
DPP Korea doubled their advantage in the 36th minute after Choe did well to hold up play inside the box before setting up Ri for a classy finish.
The East Asians kicked up a notch and furthered their advantage in the 39th minute after Yom Chol-gyong’s long ball found an unmarked Mun Jong-chong inside the danger area, who smashed his volley past Chang.
Hong Kong tried to fight back in the second half but DPR Korea were quick in closing them down.
Sohgo Ichikawa came close to scoring in the 54th minute with his brilliant run down the left but his execution lacked bite as Hong Kong lost a rare opportunity to trouble DPR Korea.
At the hour mark, Mun scored with a sublime finish from inside the box when he picked up Kang Ju-hyon’s long pass before squeezing his shot past Chang to seal DPR Korea’s progress into the Finals.
Photos: Football Association of Singapore
