Dominant North Korea Crush Japan, Set Up Semifinal Clash with Brazil

Dominant North Korea Crush Japan, Set Up Semifinal Clash with Brazil

By Admin 

 North Korea delivered a stunning performance on Saturday night at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, overpowering Japan 5–1 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals and continue their pursuit of a third world title, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The reigning champions showed their class from the opening whistle, with Kim Won-Sim and Ri Ui-Gyong each scoring twice in a dominant display that dismantled Japan’s previously solid defense. North Korea’s top scorer, Kim, opened the scoring just a minute into the match, finishing off a precise pass from Yu Jong-Hyang. Yu then doubled the lead in the 6th minute after a clever exchange with Kim.

Japan briefly responded through Konoha Nakamura in the 8th minute, but North Korea’s relentless attack proved too much. Yu added her second goal deep into stoppage time, sealing the emphatic win that sent the Asian powerhouse into the last four.

The victory extended North Korea’s unbeaten run in the tournament and reinforced their status as the most successful side in the competition’s history. The team has now scored 21 goals in five matches, conceding just six.

Japan, who entered the quarterfinals with four clean sheets and 13 goals scored, were handed their heaviest defeat of the tournament. The loss ends their hopes of reclaiming the U-17 crown they last won in 2014.

In the earlier quarterfinal played the same evening, Brazil edged Canada 5–4 on penalties after a goalless draw to book their place in the semifinals. Canadian defender Bridget Mutipula, who plays for Vancouver Rise Academy, missed her spot kick, allowing Brazil’s “Samba Girls” to advance.

North Korea will now face Brazil in the first semifinal on November 5 in Rabat, while the remaining quarterfinals France vs. Netherlands and Mexico vs. Italy are scheduled for Sunday, with the winners meeting in the second semifinal later in the week.

The third-place match and the final will both be played in Rabat on November 8, capping off what has been an exciting edition of the tournament on African soil.