This Sunday, North Korea was proclaimed champion of the U-17 Women’s World Cup held in the Dominican Republic, after beating Spain 4-3 on penalties, thus completing a magical year after winning the U-20 World Cup in Colombia and snatching the Spanish their third consecutive crown.
Spain, surrounded by the public at the Félix Sánchez Stadium in Santo Domingo, which filled 18,410 seats, started in a better position than in the semi-finals against England and in the first minute of the match they had the option of taking the lead on the scoreboard, but the hand At the hands of Celia Segura he was arrested by Pak Ju Gyong.
From there, the match entered a spiral of interruptions during the first half hour that favored the North Koreans, who were comfortable in that slow pace.
In the last quarter of an hour of the first half, Kenio Gonzalo’s pupils once again found their rhythm of play, and supported by the arrivals of the full-backs and their great crosses, Alba Cerrato headed a ball that went over by very little and Pau Comendador almost scored with a bicycle kick after an error in the goalkeeper’s clearance.
Also a mistake by Laia López almost gave North Korea the goal in her only arrival, but the post saved the Europeans in the final moments. In the second half, the Asians made a radical change, they went out to look for Spain in the opposite field and had two clear chances in which Laia López intervened correctly.
This start by North Korea caused the slow play of the first half to become a clash of power to power, and there Pau Comendador, with a great individual action, assisted Celia Segura to score the first goal of the match at 61 minutes.
The North Koreans celebrate their goal in the final in front of some crestfallen Spanish players.
Spain and the public celebrated, but four minutes later North Korea hit back with a great goal from Jon Il Chong, who dribbled past the Spanish goalkeeper. Once again tied, North Korea and Spain went for the second goal: Kang Ryu Mi for the Asians and Alba Cerrato for Spain had the opportunity, but both goalkeepers made two spectacular saves to prevent the goals.
In the last quarter of an hour, the game was paused again due to the fear of losing on both teams and the intensity decreased again. Thus, regulation time ended with the two teams undefeated in the tournament and with a final that was going to be decided in a penalty shootout.
In the penalties, both Pak Ju Ryong and Laia López saved a ball, the second of the shootout, but the error of Pau Comendador, the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, when she missed a penalty that went very wide, ended up ending the Spain’s illusions, which completely disappeared with Kang Ryu Mi’s final goal.
Technical sheet:
North Korea, 1 (4) – Spain, 1 (3)
North Korea: Pak Ju Gyong; Ri Ye Gyong, Park Il Sim, Ri Pom, Ri Kuk Hyang; Jon Il Chong, So Ryu Gyong (Choe Yon A, m.60), Choe Rim Jong, Ro Un Hyang; Choe Il Son (Ho Kyong, m.43) (Jong Pok Yong, m.94), Kang Ryu Mi.
Coach: Song Sung Gwon.
Spain: Laia López; Martina González, Claudia de la Cuerda, Aiara Aguirrezabala, Nerea Carmona; Ainoa Gómez (Emma Moreno, m.96), Irune Dorado, Clara Serrajordi (Noa Ortega, m.98); Pau Comendador, Celia Segura, Alba Cerrato.
Coach: Kenio Gonzalo.
Referee: Daiane Muñiz (Brazil). He admonished Alba Cerrato and Kang Ryu Mi.
Goals: 0-1, m.61: Celia Segura. 1-1, m.68: Jon Il Chong.
Penalties: 0-1: Celia Segura. 1-1: Ri Kuk Hyang. 2-1: Ro Un Hyang. 2-2: Noa Ortega. 2-3: Jon Il Chong. 3-3: Emma Segura. 4-3: Kang Ryu Mi.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the final of the U-17 Women’s World Cup played at the Félix Sánchez Stadium, in Santo Domingo, before 18,410 spectators.
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