DPRK crowned Asian champions

DPR Korea have been crowned 2008 AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions after Kim Yong-ae’s second-half strike secured a 2-1 win over defending champions China.

DPR Korea skipper Ri Kum-suk (with trophy) celebrate their AFC Asian Women’s Cup triumph

Both sides have been in fine form on the road to the final and unsurprisingly the game got off to a frenetic start.

And the opening goal soon arrived when Bi Yan breached the North Korean’s defence for the first time in the tournament in the 11th minute.

But DPR Korea kept their heads up and turned the game on its head with two goals in nine minutes.

First, Ri Kum-suk equalised in the 57th minute before Kim Young-ae scored in the 66th minute to secure DPR Korea’s third Asian title and first since 2003.

DPR Korea attacked from the start and Ri Un-suk drove a shot wide of the right-hand post in the sixth minute.

China’s first shot on goal came two minutes later when Zhang Ying was allowed to run free midway inside the North Korean’s area before sending a long-range effort over the bar.

But the large Chinese following were celebrating in the 11th minute when Bi Yan picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and drove a fine effort into the back of the net with goalkeeper Jun Myong-hul well beaten.

Ri Kum-suk powered a free-kick into the wall in the 22nd minute before she scuffed a shot at goalkeeper Zhang Yan-ru as DPR Korea looked to respond.

Zhang pulled off a fine save to preserve China’s slender lead just after the half hour mark when Ri Un-suk laid the ball off for Ki Kyong-hwa in the area but the defender’s powerful drive was pushed to safety by the goalkeeper.

DPR Korea continued to dominate and Ri Un-gyong’s free-kick landed on the roof of the net in the 37th minute although China proved they were still capable of adding a second goal when Han Duan’s dangerous cross was just snuffed out before the break.

DPR Korea weathered early pressure from China at the start of the second period and came close to equalising in the 52nd minute when Kil Son-hui won the ball off a defender and squared a pass across the face of goal but substitute Jo Yun-mi was unable to get anything behind her shot.

But the Korean’s finally got reward for their pressure when influential skipper Ri Kum-suk headed home from a cross in the 57th minute.

Nine minutes later DPR Korea took the lead when substitute Kim Ok-sim brought down a hopeful cross just inside the area before unleashing a powerful shot that Zhang could only palm into the path of the onrushing Kim Young-ae who stabbed home.

The goal rattled China and Kim Ok-sim should have put the result beyond doubt minutes later but she fired wide when in a good position.

Wang Dandan spurned the chance to grab a late equaliser when she compounded to send a shot high and wide when free on the edge of the area but DPR Korea defended resolutely to secure the win.