Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Larnaca: Korea Republic won their first game as they beat South Africa 2-0 in the Cyprus Women’s Cup at the Ammacostos Stadium in Cyprus on Wednesday as part of their preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 finals.
The game was an affair renewed as the Korean ladies beat South Africa 2-1 last year and were deemed the favourites in the 12-nation invitational tournament for women’s association football this year.
Striker Ji So-yun (pictured) easily controlled the ball before shrugging off the challenge of central defender Lebogang Mabatle and fired a low shot past debuting stand-in goalkeeper Andile Dlamini to give the Asian side the lead on 10 minutes.
The Koreans were given too much time on the ball and proved to be tactically astute opponents but towards the end of the first half, the Africans began to work their way back into the match to make an opportunity for their striker but her try was saved by Korean goalie Kim Jung-mi.
Jeoun Eun-ha then made it 2-0 in the second half after she found a through ball from the middle and beat a poorly devised offside trap before lobbing the ball over Dlami.
The Koreans are set to meet Ireland in their next Group C match in the invitational tournament on March 8.
Korea Republic are one of the four direct entrants to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2014 finals.