Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Osaka: A 92nd minute penalty from Wang Shuang saw China snatch a dramatic 1-1 draw with DPR Korea in the AFC Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016 qualifiers at Nagai Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Ra Un-sim’s strike on 38 minutes looked to have sealed a win for Korea DPR in a match that neither nation really managed to control only for Wang to convert from the spot after she was hauled down in second half stoppage time.
The result sees China in second place in the early standings on four points after two games having defeated Vietnam 2-0 in their opener, and two behind front-runners Australia, while DPR Korea remain winless after they drew 1-1 with Korea Republic on Monday.
“What can I say? This is why we all like football. Defensively, we had a great match, but we had some difficulties in attack and DPR Korea gave us great pressure inside their own half,” said China coach Bruno Bini.
“I admire the physical quality of the Korean team, but I think we are the team who has more courage – in the 91st minute I felt like I was 10 years older than I am, but in the 92nd minute I’m 15 years younger!
“I don’t usually single out players, but I have to pay credit to Wang Shuang because she had to have so much courage to take that penalty. She is a young player with good talent and it’s difficult to see what she will do, just like a horse in the wild.”
With both nations pressing strongly neither was able to settle and control the tempo of the match with the first real opening not arriving until the 19th minute.
DPR Korea’s Wi Jong-sim found herself in space on the right wing and sent in a cross that fell to Ju Hyo-sim in the centre of the penalty box but she was unable to accurately control it and a grateful Zhao Lina gathered the loose ball.
After a lengthy spell where both sides frequently turned over possession DPR Korea finally made the breakthrough seven minutes shy of the break.
Ri Hui-jong sent in a deep cross from the left towards Ra who glided to the right side of the penalty box then flashed her shot back across Zhao to send her side to the interval with the narrowest of leads.
Ra had a shot that was sharply saved by Zhao shortly after the resumption of play and Tan Ruyin tried her luck from distance as the second half continued to be a tight affair with few clear-cut chances.
With just over a quarter of an hour to play DPR Korea had a golden chance to double their lead when Ri Ye-gyong found herself in space on the left and sent in a curling cross which was met by the head of Kim Yun-mi but her effort was tipped over the bar by a diving Zhao.
As the match headed to the final ten minutes both sides committed greater numbers forward and firstly DPR Korea substitute Kim Su-gyong sent in a powerful shot from just to the right of the box that Zhao sharply saved before a series of short passes from Wang Shanshan and Wang Shuang ended with a turn and volley from Zhao Xue that went straight to the DPR Korea keeper Hong Myong-hui.
Just as the match appeared headed for a narrow DPR Korea win they lost possession and a fast break from China started by Zhao Xue saw Wang Shanshan pass to Wang Shuang who was brought down in the box with referee Rita Binti Gani pointing to the spot.
Wang Shuang picked herself up to guide her penalty to the right of a diving Hong as China snatched a late point with the last kick of the match.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we still have two matches left and we’ll do our best to win those games,” said DPR Korea coach Kim Kwang-min.
“Compared to the last couple of years, China has been developing and we had a plan to try and control them, but unfortunately the result wasn’t good.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports