The Hindu : North Korea retains title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 23, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

North Korea retains title

BANGKOK JUNE 21. North Korea retained the AFC women's championship title on Saturday after Ri Kum-Suk scored a golden goal from the penalty spot in extra time for a 2-1 victory over China.

The teams were level after 90 minutes and the game looked to be heading toward a penalty shoot-out when referee Im Eun-Ju pointed to the spot for a handball by China centre-half Gao Hongxia.

Ri, who had given her side the lead in the closing minutes of the first half, kept her cool to score the goal, her 15th of the tournament, that sparked off scenes of jubilation on the North Korean bench and on the terraces of the cavernous Rajamangala Stadium. China's goal came through Gao Hongxia in the 61st minute.

In a game which showed Asian women's football at its best, both sides enjoyed periods of dominance but China ended up ruing the lack of a goal scorer in Ri's mold.

North Korea took the lead against the run of play on 41 minutes. Gao Hongxia should have cleared O Kum-Ran's cross from the right but she sliced it straight to Ri just inside the box. With China keeper Zhao Yan off her line, Ri made no mistake with a powerful first-time effort.

And with the quicksilver Bai Jie taking up good positions down the right, the Chinese equaliser came in the 61st minute when Gao powered a header home from Zhao Lihong's corner.

In the match for the third and fourth positions, South Korea edged Japan 1-0, and also secured a berth in the World Cup in the United States starting on September 20.

— AP

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